A community crisis project in Newton Aycliffe has received cash support to fund a new community garden.
Junction 7 – a crisis intervention programme for the residents of the West ward area of the town – has received £8,354 in funding from Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP).
The money will be used to start renovations to Junction 7’s garden area, bringing a much-welcomed outdoor space to the organisation.
GAMP’s Area Budget funding will support Junction 7 fund essential garden refurbishment works, providing equipment and furniture to make the space more user friendly.
Enhancing the space will provide a place for the community to come together, to share and learn new skills, while also growing fresh local produce.
Junction 7, a registered charity, provides emergency food, pre-loved school uniforms, a furniture scheme, credit union and sign-posting to the local community.
Simon Day from Junction 7 – pictured (above, left, with his wife Jane and GAMP co-ordinator Brian Riley, at the Pioneering Care Partnership) – said: “The funding received helped us greatly in supporting the garden refurbishment.
“Our volunteers have always have been paramount in the delivery of this project, and the additional support from the Veterans Hub has been a fantastic support.
“Seeing two groups from the local community coming together has been fantastic – I hope this is something we can look to work on going forward.
“Without this support we would not be able to carry out our projects with continued success.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic Junction 7 has operated a referral system for food packages out of their base in The ARK at Silverdale Place, where a team of volunteers put packs together and organise their safe distribution and collection.
Brian Riley said: “Junction 7 provided an invaluable service to local Newton Aycliffe residents during the pandemic crisis, and now continue to provide support for the local community through the community garden project.
“Simon and Jane, and all volunteers connected to Junction 7, have been faultless in their dedication to helping our community’s most vulnerable residents, and their efforts are greatly appreciated by the Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership board.”