Mansfield District Council
Working to develop pride in place through renovated community spaces, and develop local people and skills through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
We’re making a positive impact across Mansfield by partnering with Mansfield District Council through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. So far, we’ve delivered 6 impactful community projects (see some highlights below) – and there’s more to come. We’ll continue our work in Mansfield, now expanding our reach with new partners like Morgan Sindall. Spaces/clubs offering sports or physical activity are also match-funded through our national partnership with Sport England.
These renovations are revitalising vital community spaces while empowering local young people with trade skills. NEET and at-risk young people are gaining hands-on experience, industry accreditations, and the confidence to pursue future employment opportunities. So far, 8 young people involved in these projects have progressed into employment, apprenticeships, or further education.
Debdale Park
Debdale Park Sports Village in Mansfield Woodhouse is a busy hub for local football, cricket and rugby. With the help of local young people, we refreshed the space to encourage wider use – especially by women and girls – by repainting the exterior, renovating the outdated female changing rooms, and creating a striking mural with Fresh Creative. Inspired by the club’s new branding and Sherwood Forest roots, the mural was brought to life using paint donated by our partners at Dulux, giving the site a bold new identity and renewed community pride.
I have enjoyed being able to work as a group and have learned new skills that will be helpful in the future.”
Young Person Feedback
The Social Action Hub
This space supports vulnerable adults, families and children through projects focused on poverty relief, mental health and wellbeing. To help them expand their offer, we created a new outdoor Forest School, giving young people a safe place to connect with nature and get creative. As part of the project, we laid a concrete base, installed a summerhouse and decking, added bark for safety, and built planters, seating, a handwashing station, and a display structure. These improvements will allow the hub to run holiday programmes and give more young people access to nature.
Jigsaw Support Scheme
A well-recognised Nottinghamshire charity supporting people who are isolated through a wide range of mental health issues and who struggle to navigate everyday life. To help expand their outdoor community space, we worked with young people to repaint and decorate the site, convert a shipping container into a simple kitchen, and build new planters to grow more food for local foodbanks. We also created an accessible path so care home residents and wheelchair users can enjoy the allotment. The completed improvements have helped Jigsaw offer more support, connection, and opportunities for the people they serve.
“What a wonderful experience! The mentors, students, internal VIY team were absolutely amazing and what a difference this will make to our community having good wheelchair access and kitchen area. Ten out of ten everyone! Thank you again!”
Alison Wearing – Jigsaw Support Scheme Manager
Woodhouse Colts
A growing grassroots club expanding their women’s and girls’ offer, Mansfield Woodhouse Colts faced a lack of suitable facilities, leaving the female game with no dedicated changing/team space, with little growth opportunity. To help tackle this, the team got creative, transforming a shipping container, kindly donated by Morgan Sindall, into a dedicated female-only changing space. We also supported the development of a new hospitality and storage area to better serve players and visitors. These improvements mean the women and girls game can now thrive and grow at Woodhouse Colts.
St Peter’s Centre
A vibrant community hub, home to regular groups, events, and a daily street kitchen supporting those in need. To help make the space more inviting and flexible, we transformed a disused storage room into a calm, dedicated 1-to-1 therapy space, now available for private sessions or hire by local businesses. We also repainted and redecorated several rooms throughout the centre. These updates have improved both the look and layout of the centre, helping it better serve its users and attract more visitors and renters from the wider community.
“The work done here at St Peter’s Centre by VIY was amazing, the team worked very hard. All areas look fantastic, fresh and clean, and everyone who uses the centre agrees it’s a job well done.”
Glen – St Peter’s Centre Manager
Toby was referred to VIY by Vision West Notts College and joined his first project at St Peter’s Centre in Mansfield (funded by Mansfield City Council via UKSPF) in March 2025.
He then volunteered in a second VIY project, at The Treasury, Mansfield, funded by Morgan Sindall, where he took part because of his interest in the NOCN Level 1 Environmental Awareness and Sustainability in Construction qualification, which he successfully achieved. In addition, Toby also gained two Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations in Introducing Paint Finishing Skills and Conduct at Work through his participation in the projects.
Throughout the VIY projects, Toby developed his skills, confidence, and work ethic, and was put forward for a trial week with the Bell Group, an opportunity facilitated through VIY’s partnership with the Dulux Decorator Centre, where he impressed and secured a full Painting & Decorating Apprenticeship.
Five months in, Toby is thriving and excited to build his future as a Painter and Decorator.
Elliot says: “My dad’s a painter, so I’d always had painting and decorating in mind. When the opportunity came up, I just went for it. The apprenticeship is going really well and my confidence has grown a lot since starting.”
