Creating a Community Space at Sir Robert Thomas Court
Across Manchester, many people are unable to access and enjoy their local green spaces. One of the biggest groups affected by this is older residents and those with mobility issues, who may struggle to maintain overgrown areas. In these situations, local friends’ groups can be key for helping communities to secure funding, host volunteer days and make green spaces accessible for everyone!
Through the In Our Nature programme Groundwork has been providing funding, resources and support to various community groups and volunteers across Manchester who need a helping hand with their greening projects.
As part of Groundwork Greater Manchester’s consultation process across areas in need of support, Communities Team Lead Fran met Tracy, a local volunteer for Sir Robert Thomas Court, which is a retirement housing complex in Harpurhey with spacious outdoor areas.
Tracy, who’s been a resident of the area for over 40 years, noticed that the greenspaces had become neglected:
“I have friends who live here, my late mum lived here. Over the years I’ve seen a massive decline in the groundwork, how it looks and how it’s maintained”
Tracy and the residents had a goal to create new and improved garden areas in the complex, which residents of all ages and abilities would be able to visit and maintain. To help them reach that goal, Fran supported Tracy and other volunteers in becoming an official Friends Group, giving them the chance to apply for funding and host volunteer days. As a result of this project, we also developed a handy guide to setting up your own Friend Group, take a look.
As part of their development, Groundwork also signposted Tracy to Amity, who created a personalised ‘Growing your confidence’ session which allowed the volunteers to improve their collaboration and wellbeing support skills as a group. This increased their confidence in leading activities while also understanding participant limitations.
Tracy had previously done a lot of volunteering in the area, and noticed the difference it made to the resident’s wellbeing, as well as her own:
“I just felt that it’d be good for people’s mental health, it gives me a purpose some days when I’m feeling a bit off.”
The group secured funding from the council, and hosted a consultation with the residents to gather ideas about what they wanted in the gardens. Using their feedback, the group are now in the process of planting up raised beds, ready to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs.
Hosting volunteer days with local organisations has helped the group to achieve their goals much faster. Tracy mentioned how those who couldn’t do much physically still wanted to lend a helping hand:
“You might not be able to do large amounts of work, but if you can come out, maybe plant a little basket, that’s all part and parcel of gardening in my opinion”
Fran also talked about the environmental benefits of the residents having spaces to plant and grow their own food:
“They’ve got potatoes, tomatoes and lot of different herbs, which will hopefully mean that they’re buying less from the supermarket, less things covered in plastic, and just learning more about how food has a carbon footprint”
With the extra funding and support, Fran, Tracy and the Friends group are hopeful that the gardens will now be easier to maintain in the years to come, and that residents will feel more connected to the space through regular outdoor activities.
To find out if we can offer you support with your community project, get in touch with the Groundwork team by visiting their website.
