Volunteer It Yourself awarded thousands through Newark and Sherwood District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund
A volunteering and challenging organisation has been awarded £60,000 to provide skills development opportunities for young people in the area.
Newark and Sherwood District Council funded the Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) project through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Volunteer It Yourself is an organisation that challenges young people to regenerate community spaces while learning new vocational skills.
Their projects support young people aged 14-24 by equipping them with employability skills and qualifications, including City and Guilds accreditation.
Learners are mentored by professional tradespeople, and projects are developed through engagement with the local community to identify improvements that will benefit local residents.
The first two projects selected by VIY were at Newark Orchard School in February 2023, creating a sensory garden, and at Boughton Hub in Spring 2024, building a community garden for local residents and community groups.
A total of 46 young volunteers participated in these two projects, with 26 gaining accredited trades qualifications as a result of the experience.
Katie Booth, programme manager for VIY in the East Midlands, said: "We're grateful that our mission at VIY can help places like St Andrew's Mission Hall, who've benefited from our work.
“Thanks to our partners at Dulux who've supported this project; boosting pride in place by renovating vital community spaces and places in need of improvements, whilst also boosting skills and employability for local young people, supporting them towards a brighter future.”
The most recent project selected by VIY for delivery is located at St Andrew’s Mission Hall, Blidworth, with renovations undertaken by local community volunteers and the VIY team.
The two-week project is taking place throughout November, with works including new fencing, bespoke art and decorating to the interior and exterior, as well as improvements to the building and participation in joinery activities.
VIY have enrolled 23 young people from the area on to the project, gaining the opportunity to achieve an accredited qualification with support from VIY Trades Mentors, in addition to demonstrating their volunteering efforts.
The project has enabled young volunteers to develop vital new skills and accreditations that can help them pursue future careers or interests, in addition to providing the local community with an enhanced valuable space they can take pride in.
Councillor Claire Penny, portfolio holder for Sustainable Economic Development, said: “The Volunteer It Yourself programme is a real benefit to the community, and it’s been brilliant to know that our support through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has enabled support to more people.
“Not only are the volunteers themselves building on skills and knowledge provided to them by professional tradespeople, but local community groups are getting the benefit of improved community assets.”
The project is made possible with the support of funding received from Newark and Sherwood District Council as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to fund trades mentors.
