Bedworth
23 February 2024
Stratford Boxing Club
29 January 2024
When we first spoke to Stratford Sports Club, the town had just faced their worst floods in a decade. Our call couldn’t have come at a better time, as we stepped in with our second project with Stratford-on-Avon District Council to help kick the boxing club back into action.
The project:
The boxing club was badly damaged in the basement of the building, with water rising up to the punchbags – pictured here on the right.
We helped the club dry out the space, before recladding, repairing and redecorating the walls throughput the space damaged by the flood, and popping some equipment back into the club.
The young people: 19 local young people from partners including Welcombe Hills School (all with special educational needs), Warwickshire Youth Justice Service and Warwickshire College Group, as well four local volunteers with refugee or asylum seeker status, who joined the project to build their skills and to be part of the local community.
The impact:
- A club ready to fit new flooring to get their doors back open in April and young people training in the club
- Hear from Lorenzo below, to see the impact on his life – who has now gone on to volunteer on another VIY project on our programme in Bromsgrove
- A brilliant collaborative effort, working alongside local partners including welcomed us to the town, including Stratford Police, Stratford JobCentre, Warwickshire County Council, CAVA in Stratford, building on the success of our project in 2023 at Temple Grafton Village Hall
Action shots here by Alexia Doughty Photography and friend of the club.
Project part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, match-funded by Sport England. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
Woodrow Meeting Rooms
2 February 2024
Manor Park RFC
28 February 2023
Bradby Club
28 February 2023
Temple Grafton Village Hall
25 May 2023
This village hall was in complete disrepair, we didn’t think we could save it. A previously much-loved place for the community, in a village with a high proportion of elderly people at risk of social isolation. Shoddy walls, no heating (big reason for lack of use by the community), poor kitchen, no safe outdoor space, especially for those with mobility issues, of which there are many in the local community.
Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, match-funded by Sport England.
The project:
- Co-funded heating through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund*
- Repaired and repainted all of their interior walls and rooms
- Fitted a new kitchen
- Constructed a safe, outdoor accessible decking area
- Project supported by local young people and volunteers from the village
Impact since the project:
- Dance group who use the hall 2x per week now returning, providing good regular income
- Seated exercise group well established since the renovations and will continue after the funded sessions end due to popularity (facilitated via introduction to Think Active through VIY)
- Fundraising events and plans in full swing, the renovations attracting more to use for and attend events, keeping the space financially secure, open & local people active in many different ways
- Opened to rave reviews and feedback from the community – particularly heating and overall welcoming appearance
- Outdoor physical activity planned for the summer on the decking
Young people involved: 12 young people from Catch-22 and Think Forward
Accreditations gained: 7 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations in Carpentry
About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
Saltley Stallions FC
25 May 2023
Colebridge Trust
21 July 2023
Urban Heard
21 July 2023
Reach CIC
13 October 2023
Our first project funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with Redditch Borough Council.
The project:
To begin with, Reach Director Shannon told us “it just doesn’t look like a community space.. you have no idea how much difference this whole project will make” – we had quite the impact – see the before/after images to the right >>>
The young people: 10 young people referred from Heart of Worcestershire College, Young Solutions and the local area
The impact:
- Helped create a fit-for-purpose space by remodelling and creating stud walls – opening the main space out for larger groups and activities including fitness classes
- Created smaller, safer, confidential spaces for certain services and conversations
- Installed new basic kitchen units, thanks to generous donations from Toolstation suppliers Kitchen Kit and Bushboard, where there were previously only makeshift tables
- Redecorated throughout, including a truly impactful external window design in partnership with local window artist Hannah Exall to showcase the vibrancy of the centre, to help people identify the space and know what services are on offer which could be of use to them
- This work has allowed Reach to expand their groups to the same size as their previous space – and larger – and welcome new people too
Match-funded by Toolstation, Travis Perkins Plc and Sport England.
Accreditations gained: 5 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations gained in Painting & Decorating, Conduct at Work and Health & Safety
About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
