PiP café and community hub, on The Great Field Poundbury is absolutely thrilled to have been awarded The Kings Foundation Building a Legacy outstanding contribution to community award for 2025.
The award recognises one organisation a year that has been created in a new development and has brought cohesion, bonding and created a place where people feel welcomed and want to be.
PiP opened in the heart of lockdown in 2021 on what had been a desolate playing field on Poundbury, before the investment by the Duchy of Cornwall into a wonderful playpark, a mile of paths, the planting of more than 500 trees and the creation of a fantastic open space for the community to enjoy.
Helena Conibear Founder of The Talk About Trust Charity, who, with her wonderful Trustees had the vision for PiP, (having previously been based in a garden garage) , commented :
‘ PiP is the embodiment of what can happen when you bring people together to brainstorm what a new community needs. At Poundbury it was a space that was inclusive offering free events and clubs for everyone of all ages, incomes and abilities who live here or in the local villages around. Consultation with residents and local school children also showed they wanted PiP to be eco friendly, to offer good value refreshments, shelter and supervision of the planned park to ensure it would be a safe and welcoming community space. We’re proud to say that with more than 20 clubs and groups running from PiP, from the weekly park run, to the digital drop in, the senior social, teen hang out, youth club and holiday clubs we are delivering on that vision thanks to the wonderful volunteers, partners and organisations as well as the staff at PiP that make it not only possible, but a joy to provide’
Ben Bolgar MVO Director of The King’s Foundation commented
‘We were delighted to award the President’s Award this year to PiP for their outstanding work in the heart of the community. This is the only award with a financial contribution and we very much hope that both the award and contribution will allow the charity to have even greater impact and transform more lives in the future.’
Helena Conibear Founder of The Talk About Trust and Pavilion in The Park ( PiP) with PiP trustees, volunteers and staff with The Kings Foundation Building a Legacy outstanding contribution to community award