Last year, our young people upgraded the outdoor space at The Base, our day centre. They spent time planning the upgrades, speaking with local businesses and putting all the pieces together to transform it into a zen outdoor space. They even won the Blackpool in Bloom Award for it, a fantastic achievement that we are all so proud of! This brings us on to our latest project, upgrading the community space!
Planning our latest project
This year, our young people have decided to spread the love even further and revamp our alleyway behind the day centre on Buchanan Street.
The idea came about during one of our weekly Youth Advisory Group meetings, which bring our young people together to discuss ways they can make a difference in the community. They decided that upgrading the alleyway was a great way to create an inclusive and uplifting space for the local community.
And so the work began!
Bringing ideas to life
Throughout the project, amazing local businesses and groups, including some of the following, have supported our young people.
- Singleton & Smart provided and fitted fences to the wall
- Tesco Extra at Blackpool donated plants and helped out with some potting
- Local people donated unwanted pots and garden items
Our young people also went down to Enveco’s shop at the Blackpool Recycling Centre to bag some bargains. As the saying goes, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!’
As part of the project, our young people have also been attending a weekly ‘Splinter group’, where they can take part in woodwork and joinery activities, allowing them to learn new skills and build confidence. Within the groups, they have handcrafted planters and benches which have been used to bring the alleyway to life.
The result: A stunning community space
After months and months of hard work and dedication, our young people have created a bright, relaxing area for the community to enjoy. It’s the perfect place for people to reflect, and we welcome the community to help themselves to the herb garden and pick fresh tomatoes.
One of the most impressive features is the incredible mural wall our young people designed and created. The mural illustrates that life is not always a straightforward path and we all need a little help along the way.
We’re excited to share that the Blackpool in Bloom judges attended The Base a couple of weeks ago, so we are keeping everything crossed for another win for our brand new alleyway design.
We are all feeling so proud of our young people and their creativity and motivation to make a difference in people’s lives in the local area. Thank you to everyone who got involved and made this project possible. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
