Orchard Park community hub boosts ‘pride of place’

PROJECT: Volunteers at the new Orchard Park community hub

By Rick Lyon

A disused allotment on Orchard Park has been transformed into a community hub for local residents to enjoy.

Community interest company Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) was granted over £60,000 of Government funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to renovate at least three community spaces in Hull, in partnership with the city council.

The first project has seen an old allotment on Orchard Park turned into a community hub and growing garden for residents and students.

The land, now leased by Sirius Academy from the council, previously had no running water, and had been blighted by antisocial behaviour.

VIY and over 20 local young people have built a rain catcher on top of an existing shipping container to help to cultivate it into a garden to grow produce for a local food bank, along with protected seating and fencing around the area.

A classroom unit has been installed on the site, complete with seating and facilities for refreshments, which will be used by the school for extra learning space including for classes related to outdoor learning.

WORKING HARD: Young people helping transform the former allotment

The container was donated by the Hull Citywide Developer Partnership, which includes Keepmoat and Strata Homes. They are supporting VIY’s projects in Hull through co-funding, donating materials and colleagues volunteering their time.

The second project at Purple House Women’s Centre, on Preston Road, east Hull, to create an outdoor learning and play area for children, began in November. The centre provides a range of holistic services for women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Tim Reading, CEO of VIY, said: “The aims of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund mirror those of our mission here at VIY – providing valuable opportunity to improve pride in place in areas across Hull by transforming community places, and increasing life chances by boosting skills and employability amongst local young people volunteering on these projects.”