The Active Wellbeing Society

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working to develop healthy, happy communities living active and connected lives.

The Society was developed from the successful Wellbeing Service set up by Birmingham City Council in June 2015. They deliver so much in the community, including food justice, the Big Feed Project, cycling, walking, well-being, grow and connect (wildlife), physical activity sessions across different sports, and the clean air justice network.

VIY plans to create ramps to make the Mother Hub more accessible/inclusive. We will build a trellis to divide the space further, providing an area for films, workshops, and activities and keeping an area wild to increase biodiversity

Railings and woodchips will be added to cover and border the concrete path so it’s not slippy and has a more natural/appealing aesthetic.

We also plan to add a cover for the bike rack, a large communal moveable table, signage, an accessible grow space, an insect hotel, storage, and decoration.

Impact

This project aims to increase participation and engagement on the site and provide a space for volunteer projects.

Project Contact: Jordan Clarke, email jordan@teamviy.com

The Boileroom

The Bowling Green

The Bridge Alternative Provision Academy

The Bridge Project

Working with Doncaster Careers Hub and Nexus Multi Academy Trust, VIY converted a disused school building at The Bridge School into a new community cafe and activity/exhibition space. 

The project: we designed and created a cafe, named by the students as The Copper Pipe, including decorating and indoor seating, alongside an outdoor seating area, decking and community garden – all through learning and applying carpentry skills.

The young people: 32 young volunteers from 10 local SEN schools

The impact:

• The cafe is now run by students with special educational needs, offering work placements and supported internships, and acts as a venue for community activities and exhibitions, part of Doncaster Council’s Opportunity Area Initiative
• The space is now also being for a baby sensory class, a monthly community counsellor surgery, as well as a Community Pantry, offering necessary and essential hygiene and food items to over 100 local people each week, in conjunction with Cambeth Community Project
• The students hard work has paid off after being awarded a five star health & safety rating in November 2022
• The project was also heavily supported by VIY partners Dulux and Travis Perkins and local construction sector employer Keepmoat Homes

Accreditations gained: City & Guilds Entry Level 3 in Carpentry and Health & Safety

See the full impact of the project in the partnership film below.

The Brink

The City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club

The Chase Centre

The Community Pantry

The Elizabethan Academy

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