Wolves Foundation’s new project to bring activities, events and positivity back to green spaces across Wolverhampton has made a strong start, with early sessions attracting high numbers of young people.
The Your Spaces programme, led by Wolves Foundation in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council and funded by the council and the Premier League Foundation, launched last month at two venues, Peace Park in Whitmore Reans and Long Ley Sports Ground in Heath Town.
It aims to encourage positive use of parks and open spaces, reducing anti‑social behaviour and helping communities to feel safer and more connected.
Young people are able to enjoy a variety of free activities delivered by the Foundation and a range of partner organisations at parks, MUGA and open spaces in the city.
And Your Spaces has already had a positive impact, with many sessions welcoming over 50 young people to enjoy a wide range of free activities, from football, basketball and archery to gym sessions, arts and crafts and graffiti workshops.
Activities are being delivered by Wolves Foundation staff alongside local organisations including Hope Community Project, Wolverhampton SLAM Basketball, Kixx, Community First, Mandem Meet-Up, Beatsabar, and TLC College.
Further expansion is already planned, with new sessions due to start shortly at Tennyson Road in Low Hill, and then Weddell Wynd in Bilston to follow.
Tom Warren, general manager at Wolves Foundation, said: “Your Spaces has made a strong and promising start, with young people making the most of the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of activities, close to home in their local communities.
“Working with the council, we have identified areas of the city where we can make use of existing space and facilities and offer young people the chance to take part in a variety of outdoor activities.
“Being able to link up with different organisations who are delivering across their own expertise has also been a hugely positive development, perfectly fitting the Stronger Together pillar of our strategy which focuses on partnership working.
“Wolverhampton has a thriving network of community organisations doing great work in local communities – working alongside them and the council to grow that work is a real benefit.
“We are looking forward to Your Spaces going from strength to strength, including adding a third venue at Tennyson Road in Low Hill, which will be up and running in the next few weeks.”
The programme was developed using local data to target areas where increased activity and visibility could have the greatest impact on tackling anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, added: "By bringing together local partners and offering consistent, visible activity, Your Spaces is already helping to transform underused areas into places where communities can come together and have fun.
"We’ve had a fantastic response, both from the organisations which are delivering the sessions and from the young people themselves, and I'd encourage everyone to get involved.”
Your Spaces sessions take place every Wednesday and Friday evening at Long Ley Sports Ground, Heath Town, from 6-8pm, and every Thursday and Saturday evening at Peace Park, Whitmore Reans, also from 6-8pm.
Community organisations continue to play a central role in shaping and delivering the programme, and Wolves Foundation is inviting further expressions of interest from groups which would like to get involved in holding sessions, including the new venue at Tennyson Road.
Any organisations interested in joining the project can register an Expression of Interest by completing two forms, clicking here and here.
For all the latest on Your Spaces including the schedule, click here on the Foundation’s website and select the ‘Your Spaces’ tab.
