Worsbrough Mill enhanced through social action project
20th July 2019
A grant secured by BMHT from the Youth Social Action Fund has allowed Worsbrough Mill and Country Park to run a social action project that saw young volunteers bring a new lease of life to the venue.
The Youth Social Action Fund was launched to allow community groups to develop opportunities for people that wouldn’t normally have access to social action projects, such as those from lower socioeconomic groups, or those facing health and disability issues.
To secure the successful bid, BMHT worked in collaboration with Qdos Creates, a community arts charity that works closely with organisations supporting young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND). Qdos helped BMHT develop a range of volunteering activities that enabled disadvantaged young people from the local area to develop new skills whilst giving back to the community and connecting with the environment.
Participants from Greenacre School, Opening Doors and Barnsley College signed up for the regeneration project, creating bird boxes and feeders, painting public benches and the community allotment, taking part in a ‘tidy day’ and creating a permanent piece of art, with each activity enhancing different areas of the Worsbrough site.
The project was a great success, with volunteers clearly growing in confidence, working together as a team and gaining a sense of achievement. When asked why they wanted to volunteer, they gave answers such as: “It makes me feel happy and I make new friends” and “It made me feel confident”. Local officials and the press all came to see the results and to thank the volunteers for their hard work.
As well as improving the Worsbrough site and opening doors for those who face challenging circumstances, the project has also helped Barnsley Museums and BMHT understand more about accessible volunteer opportunities and how to better support the community as a whole.
It is thanks to the support of the local community that BMHT can continue to source funding for projects that benefit both Barnsley’s heritage and its society.
Find out more about becoming a BMHT supporter, and how your generosity makes a difference here.
