Two community gardening projects have grown into a blooming success at the John Willie Sams Centre in Dudley.
Dudley Youth Group’s gardening project and John Willie Sams men’s group have taken over raised beds in the grounds of the community centre.
Their hard work has transformed the beds from an overgrown state into a thriving garden of fruit, vegetables and wildflowers.
Dudley Youth Group is run by local charity Out of Sight, and is part of the North Tyneside Council and VODA’s Community and Place programme.
The gardening has financial support from VODA’s Volunteer and Social Action Project and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The youth gardening group has 25 dedicated members aged 10 to 18, working to make a positive difference and learn new skills. The food they grow will be used to support Out of Sight’s social supermarket in Dudley.
John Willie Sams Men’s Group is run by North Tyneside Council’s Care and Connect service, which works to reduce isolation, maintain and improve health and encourage community access.
Six men attend regularly to work on the garden, while planning and researching planting techniques. Any produce they grow will be given back to the community café in the John Willie Sams centre and to the social supermarket. One of the men has agreed to caretake all the beds during the week, saying: “It will give me something to do.”
One of the men’s beds is dedicated to the late Bob Wilson, a volunteer veteran who was a regular at John Willie Sams. He loved flowers, and his bed will be growing species that attract bees.
Out of Sight charity founder Kathleen Nixon said: “This project is a positive force in our community, fostering teamwork, responsibility, and a deep appreciation for nature.
“By cultivating a shared garden, young people experience the satisfaction of seeing their efforts bloom. The program encourages healthy lifestyles, mindfulness, and practical learning that extend far beyond the garden gates.
”The Youth Group is one of the most impactful initiatives our charity has undertaken, attracting a group of engaged young individuals who consistently demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for participating.”
North Tyneside Council is partnering with North Tyneside VODA to deliver the UKSPF programme, which is funded by the UK Government with the North East Combined Authority as the lead authority. Through UKSPF, North Tyneside Council has invested over £1.2 million through a range of grants in the North West of the Borough. They were made available to any voluntary and community sector organisations that provide services in Camperdown, Weetslade and Longbenton wards.
The funding has supported 88 projects including crucial repairs to Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter, a community transport scheme, a veterans group, improvements at New Fordley FC, new floodlights at Wideopen FC, landscaping equipment for Fordley Planta, activities for SEND children and their families, and many more.
It is part of the Council’s Ambition for the North West, creating attractive places to live, new opportunities for work and business, and inspiring spaces to play and visit.
Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Karen Clark said: “This is a wonderful example of how UKSPF grants are being used to make a positive difference in the North West of North Tyneside.
“These community gardening projects are improving the local environment, providing food for the community, and helping people stay fit and active while forming friendships and learning new skills.
“Congratulations to everyone involved, the results of all that hard work look fantastic.”
The Dudley Youth Group project is one of two projects that are being run by North Tyneside VODA as part of the third year of the Volunteer and Social Action Project, which involves six organisations around Newcastle and Northumberland.
In the last two years the project has developed over 500 volunteering opportunities, supported over 200 organisations with non-financial support including healthchecks, funding advice and general support. It has offered recognised training qualifications to over 300 volunteers.
Keith Hardy, Deputy Chief Executive of North Tyneside VODA said: “We are delighted to be able to support this wonderful community initiative with vital funding to get the project underway and to be able to purchase the equipment needed for long term success.
“The Out of Sight Youth Club has been going from strength to strength, and this is another brilliant opportunity for young people to get involved and develop their skills.”
The John Willie Sams Centre hosts a range of exciting activities and information sessions. These include information and support sessions from Citizens Advice, Props, Care and Connect, Harbour, North East Youth and Age UK. There is a chance to have a ‘Cuppa with a Copper’ with local neighbourhood police. The Centre is home to the community-based Q-Fit gym and hosts a series of health and fitness activities. Its community based café, run by veterans’ organisation Salute Her UK, provides a range of affordable meals, snacks and drinks in a relaxed sociable environment.
Further details can be obtained from John Willie Sams reception on (0191) 643 2030.
For more information about Dudley Youth Group, upcoming projects, or how to get involved, please contact Kath Nixon on outofsight@hotmail.co.uk or (0191) 447 7360.