HARLOW charity Rainbow Services, which works to improve local people’s quality of life, have led a community team to improve the entrance to Wych Elm in Harlow.

Kelly Tarling and Jason Shaves from Rainbow Services helped create a team of Wych Elm businesses and stakeholders, which included: 

• Daniel Robinson & Sons
• Crown Paints
• Source Facilities Maintenance Limited
• Leonard Brooks (Harlow) Limited
• HTS
• Harlow Council
• Matthews Plants 
• Harlow College

The team used a Civic Pride Community Fund grant from Harlow Council, donations of paint and equipment along with some additional pairs of hands, to make improvements to the area. They cleared overgrown bushes, cleaned, and repainted the entrance sign, dug a new flower border, jet washed the car park entrance and repainted both benches, adding a “happy to talk” plaque. 

Kelly Tarling, from Rainbow Services, who had the idea for the project said:

“It was great to get our business partners involved in making a positive change in their area. The project has sparked an enthusiasm for looking after our environment and we now have plans for more planters and to make this a regular community event”.

If you would like to make a big difference to your little piece of Harlow, grants of up to £500 are available from the Civic Pride Community Fund. You can see previously funded projects and apply online on the Harlow Council website: 

https://www.harlow.gov.uk/community/civic-pride-community-fund