Social Value Award
In 2019 the award for Social Value Contribution went to Coventry Healthy Lifestyles Service (HLS), who have been working closely with The Canal River Trust to support regeneration of the Canal Basin in the city. The service works with professionals and communities across Coventry to support people to make healthy lifestyle choices.
This project came about when they met with The Canal River Trust and discussed how they could work in partnership to support their clients and the local community to get more active in the area. They wanted to offer gardening sessions with the help of the Canal Trust and their own staff to support clients to get out, be more active and connect with others.
The small project has grown, and Vagdia & Holms Chartered Architects have joined HLS and The Canal Trust in the group, which they have named Project Garden Associates. They have also developed strong links with the Mental Health Team at Swanswell Point.
This has meant the Canal Basin community garden has had well-needed love and attention, while providing people with the opportunity to get outside and learn a new skill. Under the guidance of The Canal River Trust the volunteers have been able to take ownership of maintaining the garden and watch as their hard work develops into a beautiful space that can be enjoyed by the community. There are going to be more developments taking shape in the near future to include the whole community as well as plans to make the area safer.
The team are passionate about helping people make changes that have wider positive impacts on family members and even children and were thrilled to have won the Social Value Contribution Award:
Karen Wagstaff told us “It’s amazing to have won this award, our journey is just starting, but it is offering up lots of opportunities to work with other organisation and potentially other projects along the canal. The work we are doing in the community is really going places and it is going to get bigger.
Is your organisation doing things that promote the economic vibrancy of the city? Are you helping to improve the local environment? Does the way you deliver your service provide a social benefit to the city? Are you helping to make the city a more vibrant place? The Social Value Award could be right up your street. Nominations open next week.
