The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) built on the former tennis court in the far corner of Brill Playing Fields was completed in early 2022. The Parish Council would like to thank all those who helped make it happen.

The project was driven by Derek Turner, who took on the project whilst serving on the Parish Council. In February 2021, Derek contacted funding sources locally and nationally and within four months had raised £70,000 in cash and gifts-in-kind.

The bulk of the funding - a grant of £44,363 - was obtained from the FCC Communities Foundation which awards grants from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities fund.

Brill Parish council donated £15,000 from their reserve, because they saw that the MUGA, would benefit the whole community.

Brill School recognised that the MUGA would provide an all-weather area for the many sports enjoyed by the children. They therefore donated £10,000. Brill School PTA likewise kindly gave £5,000.

Brill Tennis Club donated £1,000 from their funds. They now have to share what was previously an exclusive facility but they saw the advantages of the project and were fully supportive.

As well as direct financial help there have been many extremely generous contributions in kind.

Dominic of Oxford Oak Tree Surgery who is based in Brill, offered a generous discount to cut down the existing overgrown Leylandii, remove them from site and grind down the remaining stumps. During the application process there was a shortfall of several hundred pounds and Dominic agreed to reduce his price further to help meet the target.

Simon Taplin of Taplins Plant Hire, another Brill-based business, has been nothing but open-handed in his provision of equipment. Security fencing, trackway, welfare hut storage and other plant; Simon has been extremely generous. The initial build time was to be four weeks but, due to weather and material shortages, construction took five months - and Simon was happy to extend the time his equipment was on site.

Mark and Will Sanders of Sanders Electrical, yet another Brill-based business, provided an electrical connection on the outside of the Scout Hut for use by the contractors. Neil Shaw fitted an outdoor water supply form the Scout Hut, and the Scouts allowed use of their hut to facilitate these services.

Derek Turner supplied timber and aggregates for the court surround plus paving and labour for the entrance points and hornbeam plants for the new hedge. Rob Timms and Mike Horn were tireless in their work, removing the original chain link fencing labouring to finish the outer area and planting the new hedge.

All in all, the MUGA is a fabulous new facility for the village, free for all to use, and made possible by the overwhelming generosity of all those mentioned above.

Brill Parish Council, May 1st, 2022