It’s hard to believe that I’ve spent over a decade of my life involved with Big Local North Cleethorpes. And looking back it’s still amazing to see all the things we’ve done.
We’ve managed some pretty big, obvious projects like the Pavilion, the ramp, 82 Grimsby Road and the Youth Group, but there have been dozens and dozens of other less obvious projects. All of these things have made a difference to the residents in North Cleethorpes.
It’s been great to see all the things we’ve achieved but it’s all been down to the people involved. We’ve had a great relationship with VANEL helping us deliver projects, and without John Mooney as our very long-term Development Worker it would have been hard for a committee of volunteers and residents to deliver quite as much as we have.
A big thanks from me to everyone who has helped us make things happen over the years.
It’s not always been easy. It’s amazing how many people don’t seem to want to help make things happen and there have been frustrations and projects that haven’t gone as planned over the years. But so much has happened.
It’s amazing that the Pavilion where we first started is still working for the community all these years later and we’re able to finish off the Big Local project back where we started!
One of my personal visions was always to have something for young people in the area. And for a while we ran the Youth Group and even now the new use of the building down at the railway station means local young people are getting supported.
It was amazing that we managed to bring this million pounds of funding into the area way back in 2012. And even more amazing that we’ve probably doubled that to two million pounds of benefit to the local community.
What a journey. It’s a shame it’s finished and there wasn’t a clear round of funding to keep things going. But many projects have left a legacy in the area and the community hub at 82 Grimsby Road is still open for people to visit hopefully for many years ahead.
A big thank you to everyone who has connected to and supported Big Local North Cleethorpes over these years.
Darren Linford
Darren has been Chair of Big Local North Cleethorpes from around 2014 – 2025.