Thanks to funding secured through Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership, Junction 7 in Newton Aycliffe have successfully begun renovations to their garden area, bringing a much-welcomed outdoor space to the organisation.
Junction 7 were successful in applying for and securing GAMP Area Budget funding, to help support them in the essential garden refurbishment works, providing equipment and furniture to make the space more user friendly.
Enhancing the space has provided a great place for the community to come together, to share and learn new skills, whilst also growing fresh local produce. The garden is helping to provide a multitude of therapeutic and wellbeing benefits to all residents and user groups.
In recent developments Junction 7 have received support from the local Veterans Hub. The group made contact and offered support from their members who offer various skills such as carpentry, joinery and gardening, for some of the ‘trickier’ jobs in the garden.
Simon Day, from Junction 7, said: “The funding received helped us greatly in supporting the garden refurbishment. Our volunteers, as always, have been paramount in the delivery of this project, and the additional support from the Veterans Hub has been a fantastic support. Seeing two groups from the local community coming together has been fantastic, I hope this is something we can look to work on going forward. Without this support we would not be able to carry out our projects with continued success.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic Junction 7 have operated a referral system for food packages out of their base in The ARK at Silverdale Place, where a team of volunteers put packs together and organise their safe distribution and collection.
Brian Riley, Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership Coordinator said, “Junction 7 provided an invaluable service to local Newton Aycliffe residents during the pandemic crisis, and now continue to provide support for the local community through the community garden project. Simon and Jane, and all volunteers connected to Junction 7, have been faultless in their dedication to helping our community’s most vulnerable residents, and their efforts are greatly appreciated by the Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership Board.”