Sovereign Housing Association is working alongside Isle of Wight residents to transform the outdoor spaces around where they live.
10 projects, submitted by locals in East Cowes, Newport and Ryde, will receive a share of over £41,500 from Sovereign’s Your Community Your Choice (YCYC) programme.
YCYC lets people submit their project proposals and the public then gets to vote on which ones they think should receive funding and Sovereign’s support.
Residents from more than 200 homes will benefit.
Morey Court in Ryde will see the green space next to its car park made more private, with a new hedge, recycled plastic benches and a bird feeder added, so families can enjoy being outside and socialising with neighbours.
Residents at Russell House in Newport will enjoy a reinvigorated community garden. New planters will be installed, raised edging added to define borders, a new trellis mounted for flowers to weave through, and an arch put over the walkway.
The Foyer in Ryde was recently given an allotment, so its young residents can grow fruit and vegetables and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of gardening. Funding from YCYC will give them the tools to prepare and care for the allotment and a shed to store equipment.
Chris Story, Shift Leader at The Foyer, said:
“I’m so pleased that this resident-led project has been awarded the funding. It’s a massive opportunity and we are excited about getting the project under way.”
Further projects are happening at Wellington Court in East Cowes; Nelson Road, Malthouse Court and St Cross Court in Newport; and Gobles Close, Preston Close in Ryde and Mary Rose Avenue in Wootton.
A joke – what initially was proposed in my area was a big improvement, but owing to lack of money has been reduced to a slope to allow access for people in wheelchairs and pushchairs (that is good) and a re-cyclable, plastic picnic table. The ground is very uneven, so I don’t quite see the point!
Publicity for the Housing Association!
They should focus on getting repairs done, as opposed to taking photographs – their favourite past-time.