GRIT Studios

In 2021, Sophie Macaulay, the Founder of Grit Studios, found a quirky 4,800-square-foot derelict building in Stockport town centre with massive potential. She set out to restore the building, transforming the space into fabulous creative studios, bringing colour to the neighbourhood, and providing jobs to local communities. Grit now offers free music and arts events and workshops such as carpentry, welding, and jewellery making. Over the past 3 years, the GRIT team have transformed their wider site to create a biodiverse and low-impact centre for young people and the local community to meet and connect.

The project:

With funding from the Eden Project and our first direct funding from our National Partners City & Guilds through the City & Guilds Foundation, we created bespoke storage and a special community table to bring people together for their ‘The Big Lunch‘ event – a national annual community get-together, bringing people from different communities together through friendship, food and fun.

The Impact:

• Local young people volunteered during the summer holidays alongside our Trade Mentors to help create the table, gaining an Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditation in Carpentry as part of their experience
• Grit received the ‘Sharing Table Award‘ by Eden Project Communities, who organise The Big Lunch event, including our work with City & Guilds to create The Big Lunch sharing table as part of their wider community project to develop their site as a truly collaborative and creative space
• Michael Osbaldeston, Senior Advisor, City & Guilds Foundation and part of our VIY Advisory Board, said: “The City & Guilds Foundation was delighted to be able to support the creative community at GRIT studios in Stockport through a VIY project.  The quality of the VIY work makes a real contribution to the working environment and displays craft excellence in a practical way. Having been fortunate enough to see the young people in action, what was clear was the level of tuition they were being given, and their excitement at being able to learn new skills in such a supportive environment.  We were proud that this project demonstrably delivered benefits to the client, the trainees and the local community.”

Oldham Greenhill Community Sports & Recreation Club

Oldham Greenhill Community Sports & Recreation Club is a charity-based organisation that facilitates an indoor 4G pitch, a children’s indoor play centre, community rooms, and a Community Cafe, hosting various community events, activities, holiday camps, and tournaments.

Project Contact: Danny Hawkins, email danny@teamviy.com

Liverpool Road Hall Community Centre

Youth Opportunities Contact: Gemma Torr, email gemma@teamviy.com
Project Manager Contact: Danny Hawkins, email danny@teamviy.com

Be the Change

Be The Change is an award-winning youth organisation based in Bolton, committed to developing young people who are a positive force.

Project Contact: Danny Hawkins, email danny@teamviy.com

Ashton Cricket Club

Sholver and Moorside Community Centre

Project Manager Contact: danny@teamviy.com

Youth Engagement Contact: gemma@teamviy.com

Project Overview

Elton Vale Cricket Club

Wigan St Patricks Amateur Rugby

Project Manager Contact: danny@teamviy.com

Project Overview

Bickerstaffe Football Club

Project Manager Contact: danny@teamviy.com

Youth Engagement Contact: gemma@teamviy.com

Project Overview

On this project, VIY renovated the home and away changing rooms. Additionally, we refreshed the corridor, function room, and kitchen with a fresh coat of paint, breathing new life into the club after 20 years of neglect.

As an extra touch, we also created picnic benches for spectators to enjoy, enhancing their experience at the club.

The impact of this project was significant, ensuring that both females and males feel more comfortable and welcome when using the improved facilities.

Wigan and St Helens Sailing Club

Youth Engagement Lead: gemma@teamviy.com

Next Page »