We run job shops, IT skills courses, social groups and other adult workshops 5 times a week, we run a youth group 4 times a week where we engage with young people to look at their social issues and how they themselves can resolve those issues. We also have a vast community garden where local residents can put their hand to learning more about the environment and improve their own local area.
We are in the process of developing the community green space into an attractive play zone and community garden where local residents can relax, attend workshops in horticulture and which will also provide educational areas for schools and other community groups.

We have also set up a social enterprise arm which contributes to the running cost of the core project. So far we have a community cafe; Yummy Mummies outside catering and set up a community art gallery on site where residents of all ages show case the art work they produce. All art work is for sale and we intend to hold 7 shows per year.

What we'll deliver:

• a community garden where horticulture is used for therapy and rehabilitation
• A new infrastructure will be designed at the community green space
• Investing in the future through social enterprises
• opportunities for artistic and creative expression
• Positive engagement through a community hub & community garden
• Tackling anti social behaviour through positive engagement programs
• tackling local deprivation and unemployment through targeted workshops
• Breaking down social barriers through creative arts
• To contribute towards the building of community cohesion and inclusiveness
• To inform and engage local people in addressing their own and wider social, economic and environmental wellbeing

Why it's a great idea:

Burnside Community Garden aims to encourage local involvement and participation in a gardening and social activities program providing social interaction, physical activity and learning about the environment, food provision, gardening, horticulture, arts & crafts and social issues that effect their local community and how they themselves can make where they live better.

Any project that aims to build a stronger community can only be a good idea, as this project is fully community lead the community will benefit from a better place to live, play and work.

The community garden and community hub is staffed solely by local residents, who want to be part of the regeneration of their own area.

We run a youth ambassadors club where young people 15 y/o and above, can think about social issues that effect them and their local community, take ownership of youth lead projects within the core project and learn new social skills as well as prepare for high education or employment.

Steps to get it done:

• By working with local residents, partner companies and Funders
• Funds are needed to cover the basics like rent, electric, gas, transport etc etc

We are just about to install a network of CCTV, which is intended to deter anti social behaviour, vandalism of the outdoor zones and show a proactive approach in making the area a safer place for local residents.We are installing a full play zone which will see climbing structures, swings, assault course and outdoor gym which we are intending to use as a engagement space to promote family cohesion and building a stronger community through sport themed activities. We have so far completed the outdoor youth zone, greenhouse zone, small urban garden zone, food production zone.We have partnered up with Creative Ginger; “Off The Wall Gallery”, who will be running many engagement activities for all age groups; some of these are “The Community Art Wall, which will show case how the community see’s their own community and “Take a Pic” which is a youth lead project. The aim is to have a collage of pictures showing the area over the last 25 years and the development of the community garden.