The Project’s Destination
Work, Rest and Play
Our dream is to build a lasting, life changing opportunity for young people. Our intention is to build over the next five years so that young people can then enjoy what they have created for the following twenty years. We will concentrate in three areas, work, rest and play. To build a centre with wide opportunities and experiences and a narrow focus. Our focus is young people. The opportunities are as follows:
Work
To create and develop several social enterprises that will give young people an opportunity to learn and practice business skills.
- To grow fruit and veg
- To grow flowers
- To develop a woodworking studio
- To develop a 4 wheel pushbike
Within these businesses we offer a chance for young people to write business plans, to learn profit and loss accounting as well as hands on practical advice on the above businesses. Selling the items will encourage young people to learn about marketing, selling price and possibly failure or rejection and then understanding what went wrong.
Rest
A place to retreat, to find peace, to find stillness. In lives dominated by activity and noise, we will provide a place to slow down and stop.
- Cats, Chickens, ducks and pigs
- A rose garden
- An orchard
The chickens will lay eggs but aside from that we see the animals as pets. An enjoyment and a tactile rest. The orchard and rose garden will be laid out in walkways, with benches, ponds and places to crash. Life changing quotes will generate reflection.
Play
A pallet building, adventure playground and tree walkway will be areas of fun. Play is so important and is often a key area missing from young people’s lives. They are encouraged to ‘grow up’ and we want to say being grown up is fun as well! The pallet building will house an art studio where young people can create using needle and thread or with paint. Do the adventure playground and tree walkway need explaining?
Additionally, we will have a kitchen both indoor and out. Young people will learn to cook with the food they grow, teaching them to eat healthily and experiment. To try new things. We will encourage young people to dine together rather than flop in front of the tele! And we will be inviting groups of people to eat with us. To enjoy time with young people and to enjoy the food they cook.
To Summarise
The land will be divided into 3 separate areas.
- Arriving on the land you will see fruit bushes lining the path and raised beds adorned with vegetables. We will erect a polytunnel to allow us to grow a wider variety of fruit and veg.
- Heading further into the land, you will arrive at the work area. A building will house all the tools needed to cultivate the plants. It will also house the woodworking area and batteries to provide electricity. There will be a kitchen and dining area. The kitchen will be both indoor and out. A bore hole will be dug to bring water onto the land. At this level we will also build the pallet building, tree walkway and adventure playground. It will be the place where chickens will be found. Clever hedging and planting will divide the land without needing fencing or walling.
- As we climb up the land we will arrive at the orchard. At the top it provide a place away from activity. The rose garden will be a central focus and will have a pond. The pond will fill from a higher pond and will provide a gentle trickle of water. Soothing at the best of time.
Our aim is to build and to enjoy. In the building we will take time out to enjoy. In the enjoyment we will need to maintain and in places rebuild. Our hope is to build over 5 years and to enjoy over 20. But to even have the opportunity to do this for one year will be a privilege. It will gives us a chance to give young people a chance.
