Young people transform garden space in Dukinfield

A group of young people have worked together to transform the garden of TMBC’s School Music and Library’s Birch Lane Centre  to make it a better place for all its users.

The group of 10 young people are all members of Groundwork’s Princes Trust Team programme; a 12-week personal development programme which supports young people aged 16-25 who are not in education, employment, or training to achieve a nationally recognised qualification - ‘Prince’s Trust Award in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills’.

Tameside School Music and Library Service in Dukinfield provide support for all schools in Tameside to help instill a lifelong love of music and reading.    The services work together to provide a wide array of different activities, resources and tuition to thousands of young people every week.

Over the past two weeks, the team worked alongside Tameside School Music and Library Services to make the garden space an accessible place for their users as well as providing an outdoor venue for music and reading activities.

The young people undertook all the work themselves; trimming bushes and trees, painting posts and fences, planting beautiful flower beds, and creating a footpath through a previously inaccessible area. The team were also responsible for planning and delivering the project and as such sourced donations to make the project a reality from Whitehead’s Timber, DB Garden Nurseries, and from employees at Groundwork.

On Wednesday 13^th July, the team celebrated their work with a small launch event, where friends, family and members of the community could hear about and see their work undertaken by the volunteers.

Councillor Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Education, Achievement and Equalities was in attendance and commented,

“I’d like to thank the volunteers from the Prince’s Trust for all their hand work in transforming this space into an amazing garden, as well as the organisations that gave donations.

“It looks fabulous and will make a wonderful venue for Tameside Music Service’s renowned concerts and sessions and for the Library Service’s outdoor activities. Well done to everyone involved, you should all be extremely proud of your achievement.”

Alex, aged 21, one of the young people in the team commented,

“I have loved every second of the Community Project and turning the garden area around. We had lots of ideas and managed to do all of it. The feedback and faces of the staff at Tameside School Music and Library Services has made it all worth-while.”

As well as volunteering on a community project, Prince’s Trust Team Programme participants undertake a variety of learning opportunities and experiences to enhance the life skills and aspirations of the young people.

Groundwork Greater Manchester deliver the Team programme in Ashton, Rochdale & Oldham with opportunities to participate in future programmes available to young people aged 16-25 who are not in education, employment, or training. To find out more about the programme or to apply for the next cohort please visit www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/princes-trust-team-programme