A not-for-profit community training and resource centre in Dormanstown has received a £5,000 donation from Travis Perkins Managed Services following a community project competition held at CIH Housing 2015.
Located in Dormanstown, Westfield Farm is a community resource and training centre that offers meeting and conference facilities, and community gardens. It is owned and managed by Coast & Country with the invaluable support of volunteer group, Friends of Westfield Farm.
The group fought off some tough competition to be awarded the £5,000 funding after impressing a panel of judges with its comprehensive project proposal. The proposal contained details on how the funding could support all areas of their work, allowing Westfield Farm to provide invaluable support and advice to local people.
The funding will contribute towards the running cost of the Farm’s many projects allowing Coast & Country and Friends of Westfield Farm to continue to work with the community to deliver and expand on their programmes.
The Work Hub that operates at the site is amongst several projects set to benefit from the funding. It teaches its participants about construction site health and safety, provides learning materials and assists users to gain a CSCS card, enabling them to work on construction sites.
Another beneficiary is Coast & Country’s digital inclusion scheme, Click Start. Click Start is a unique venture that appoints voluntary ‘Digital Champions’ to work within the local community to provide guidance and support to those who are unable to use online services. As Westfield Farm is also a registered UK Online Centre, it can provide its users with access to the internet and offers digital training for all levels of ability.
Barry McBride, Westfield Farm coordinator, said: “We’re really grateful for the funding from Travis Perkins Managed Services. It will allow us to build on our success by giving us the scope to expand and improve our current offerings, as well as develop new programmes.
“Our community gardeners are really excited about the funding as it means they’ll be able to recover the poly tunnel, allowing them to continue to grow produce into the winter months.
“You don’t need to be a Coast & Country tenant to come and use our services. We are here for the entire community. If you want to learn new skills, gain new qualifications or volunteer on the Farm, please do in get in touch. We’re always happy to help.”
Maggie Devine, social value manager at Travis Perkins Managed Services, said: “We’re pleased to be able to provide Westfield Farm with funding. It’s important to us that we give back to the communities in which we work.
“Westfield Farm really is a community hub. Not only does it provide training, education and qualifications that help get its users back into work, but it also provides crucial education about health and wellbeing.”