In Washington, a group of young people from Washington Youth Council have been working together as part of Sunderland Youth Action Unlocked to create something real and with a lasting impact – a communal garden space that can be used, enjoyed and cared for by the whole community.
The focus for Sunderland Youth Action Unlocked was to make different areas in Sunderland healthier, more connected, greener and cleaner.
Laila explained that their project is “basically like a community garden that we can access on a Monday night and that the Youth Council are currently building. Other youth can also access it when it is fully built up – there are other groups that use this space but not when we’re here.”
But the vision goes beyond just a garden. The group also want it to be a calm, sensory space – especially for moments when people need a break from busy or overwhelming environments.
Laila explains: “When we run International Youth Day, that’s going to be more of a sensory area where people can relax and take a break because as much as it’s a really fun day and it’s good for the community to come together, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming for some people so it would just be nice to have that area.”
To build their garden, the group have got plants like lavender and herbs that smell (like a curry plant!) and they’re also getting decorations and wind chimes that make different sounds so it will have sensory aspects. There will also be seats for people to sit down and enjoy the garden.
Caleb said: “It enlightens our space, in Washington, and provides a hub for children and teenagers to go into.” He also added: “I think it helps promote us a bit more in our area like opposed to other areas because when we went to The Key [the Sunderland YAU hack event], we spoke to other people from other youth clubs and I think it was a good experience.”
When we asked the group what inspired their idea, for Bobby, the project was important because “there were different areas such as connection and the environment. It helps with connection because young people can go out there and socialise with their friends.”
When doing the project and planting the different herbs and plants, the best thing about the project was “just actually getting our hands dirty”, Laila said. And week by week, the space has started to take shape – each session adding something new.
But alongside the practical work that the Youth Council have been doing, they have also identified growth in confidence, communication and teamwork. “We wouldn’t have been able to start if we hadn’t communicated or worked as a team, we had to compromise on what we wanted to fit into the budget and I think we’ve grown closer as a group doing it,” said Laila.
And across the group, different skills have developed in different ways.
Bobby said: “I think I’ve developed my communication skills just like learning how important it is to speak to one another to get the job done more efficiently and quicker.”
Laila adds: “I think I’ve developed letting other people take control because when we were at the event [YAU hack], and I immediately came up with the idea of the garden like I get this vision in my head and I find it hard to let everyone else have a say… so I think like letting other people have their own spin on the garden was something I had to learn.”
Caleb shares: “For me it has to be the teamwork and memories along the way.”
Another member reflected that “I feel like I’ve learned how to let other people show what they can do.”
Ruby adds: “Probably on how to communicate with a group because doing something like this is very hard to do when you don’t talk to each other within the group and talk through your ideas properly.”
April says: "Probably time management because we all try to rush everybody to get everything in at the end to make sure it’s all done.”
And for Leighton, the change has been really personal: “Communication because I spoke to new people at The Key [at the YAU hack event] and I’ve got autism where I find it hard to speak to new people but when I was at The Key, it was one of the first times I’ve been comfortable speaking to someone like you and I always struggled so I think it’s helped me improve that.”
And like any project, there have been challenges along the way such as changing in prices. Originally, the group had budgeted for certain items on B&Q whilst they were having a sale, but when they went back to purchase the items after receiving the yes at panel, the prices had gone up so the group had to adjust what they were getting.
Bobby said: “It meant that we missed out of some of the things that we wanted.” But the group adapted, with supported from the community as they received a lot of donations such as planting beds.
But through it all, the group have shown how proud they are of how far their project has come. Bobby said: “We could not do this just one or two of us, like we needed everyone to take part. I’m well proud of how well we’ve done, as the oldest and the longest member, it just shows how much things have changed over the years.”
“I also feel like everyone had all their different strengths which is why we needed each other in the group.”
Caleb reflected: “I feel like it’s good that we revamped the outside because I remember we never used to go outside, it used to be like closed off and like almost abandoned so it’s good that we’ve revamped it.”
And perhaps most importantly, they recognised what this space will become in the long term as April said, “It’s something that goes on continuously, it’s something that grows with us.” And Bobby added: “When we’re no longer working or being a part of this, the other young people who will take over us, will then carry it on… that makes us really proud!”
What they’ve built isn’t just a garden, it’s a legacy!
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The Key