Public Places
“Rupert Everett is really helpful and generous with his time. He acts as an ambassador for Coram’s Fields, so his involvement may attract more funding
Naz Deen
from natural materials. There’s a city farm, too.
Adults allowed - if accompanied by children
philanthropist, Thomas Coram, as a foundling hospital, it was retained as a seven-acre park and sports venue after the building was demolished in the 1920s, when the hospital moved to the countryside.
Newspaper proprietor, Lord Rothermere, donated funds to create a children’s park on the beautiful walled garden enclosure: on the east side, facilities include an expansive sandpit and toddler climbing frames, seesaws and swings. An adventure playground for older children includes zip wire, tunnel slide and climbing equipment honed
Elements of the old estate (some Grade 2 listed) house the Foundling Museum, a retelling of Coram’s story and his charity’s achievements, as well as offices, and it’s in one of these that I meet Head of Groundstaff, Noel Lyons, and Head of Youth and Sports, Naz Deen. Coram’s Fields is a charity set on developing its huge potential as a city focus for a diverse range of sport that includes football, rugby, tennis, cricket, athletics, basketball and netball. “A prime London community sporting hub striving to inspire children, young people and adults to start, stay and succeed in sport,” is how Naz describes the site.
The reality though is that Coram’s Fields struggles to find funding for some of its staff. Whilst Noel and four of his five-strong team are salaried, Naz has relied for his livelihood on a one-off contribution from a hedge fund manager living locally, large enough to keep Naz on the books for two years. “That’s coming to an end in December,” he says, “so we’re searching for alternative sources of financial support.”
Noel stresses: “Even when you are salaried, a sword is hanging over you, as you can never be certain what lies ahead. That fact alone keeps you on your toes.”
Rupert Everett
To rely on donations to keep you in a job must prove highly stressful, I suggest. “Well, this will be the third time that my income is in danger of drying up, so I’ve become used to it,” Naz answers matter- of-factly.
Some aspects of Coram’s Fields are safe however - the site was awarded protected status under the Queen Elizabeth II Fields in Trust 2012 scheme. So Naz knows children and young people living in or visiting London, including those from deprived communities, can continue to enjoy what is a unique inner- city provision.
“Coram’s Fields is believed to be the only full-size synthetic turf facility of its kind in the area, so its importance in terms of regional sporting provision cannot be overstated,” stresses Naz. The hedge fund manager’s daughter enjoyed using Coram’s Fields regularly and it seems that, for this reason alone, her father was moved to his act of philanthropy.
“Perhaps others are out there,” I ask Naz. “Maybe, but sourcing them might be difficult,” he says. Film star Rupert Everett’s house overlooks the park and he attended the official opening of the pitch, along with hundreds of children. “Rupert is really helpful and generous with his time,” says Naz. “He acts as an ambassador for Coram's Fields, so his
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014 PC 91
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156