Each of our Area Panels has a budget of £100,000 for environmental projects and £10,000 for a community development fund. Here are the details of some of the schemes and projects that the budgets have been used for:
Outer South East Area Panel
What have we done so far?
Here are schemes which the Area Panel have recently agreed to fund from their allocated budget;
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Hebden Path, Whinmoor West - landscaping/walls;
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Cross Hill Gardens, Kippax - fencing/clearance;
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Coal Road, Whinmoor West - drying area;
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Hollins Grove, Allerton Bywater - planting of evergreen shrubs;
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Hollins Grove, Allerton Bywater - remove drying area posts and reseed the area;
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Park Avenue, Swillington - part funding to tarmac area to prevent accidents to residents and vehicles.
Inner South Area Panel
What have we been doing?
The Panel made a financial contribution towards the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the Cardinal Court Extra Care Scheme at Beeston.
We have also had some fabulous suggestions regarding work we could do to improve the environment. Here are a couple of examples of projects being funded by the Panel in Beeston and Middleton.
Cardinal Court Youth Club, Cardinal Crescent, Beeston, is used by approximately 150 young people from Beeston and its surrounding areas every week. The group have been planning to turn the grounds of the club into a community garden so all who visit and live near by can benefit. The garden would include a vegetable plot, an 'enchanted' garden and a sports area. Unfortunately, those grounds are currently overgrown with 7ft high Japanese Knotweed, a particularly active type of weed which cannot be removed without specialist treatment
We have agreed to fund this work, which will be carried out by our partners from Groundwork, and will allow the Youth Club members to begin work on converting the gardens this Spring.
If you have any ideas you can e-mail your suggestions to me at: avhleeds.innersouth@avhleeds.org.uk
Outer South Area Panel
Here are some of the schemes and projects we have agreed:
Park Crescent, Gildersome - funding has been agreed for the provision of seating at the site which has been delivered, benefiting the tenants in the area who use the park on a regular basis.
Vicarage Avenue Community Allotment, Gildersome - funding to clear an area of inaccessible spare land near Vicarage Avenue. The land will then be taken on and maintained by five local schools who plan to use the space as an outdoor learning facility and community allotment. Local residents will also have the opportunity to grow vegetables and pass on their knowledge to primary school and high school students.
At present the site has been cleared, top soil has been delivered on site and work is underway constructing raised beds, pathways and AVHL has applied for a water main through Yorkshire Water for the site.
John O'Gaunts, Rothwell - funding agreed to clear a huge network of ginnels and landlocked spare land kick-started an intense 2 weeks of environmental activity in February involving residents, Area Management, South Leeds Health For All, Youth Services, John O Gaunts in Bloom, and the newly established John O Gaunts Tenants Association. More than 40 young people between the ages of 5 and 16 were involved. The project has recently been nominated for an National Federation of ALMOs award for the best Community Initiative which will be judged on the 17th May 2008.
Temple Lawn, Rothwell - provision of easy access to and seating on patio area in community centre area of the sheltered complex, moving of heating system/radiators and creating patio doors. Work is underway.
Community Projects
Tingley Street Awareness Project - the Tingley Street Awareness Projects aimed to improve the quality of life for young people. A bid was approved to fund equipment so young people can participate in self defence classes, the classes will then lead to a qualification for the children. The project is supported by West Yorkshire police and the equipment will belong to Aire Valley Homes Leeds.
Care and Repair Gardening Scheme - funding agreed for Care and Repair to provide a gardening service for the elderly. Workers employed by Care and Repair would undertake referrals provided by Housing Management staff to carry out gardening tasks for the elderly at a cost to the customer of £10per hour.
Adaptations Showroom - work underway to create a showroom from one of the guest rooms located within a sheltered housing complex in the Panel Area. These rooms, which are available at most complexes, are rarely utilised and the idea is to furnish them with a range of aids and adaptations designed to make home life more comfortable for the elderly and disabled. Set within a home environment, it is felt the scheme will provide visitors with an ideal opportunity to assess a wide range of equipment and consider what best might suit their own requirements. Contact with a number of agencies involved in the provision and fitting of such equipment, PCT and Social Services has already been established and their support is in place. The Panel felt this is an excellent proposal and agreed to provide funding from their budget.
Community Allotment - there is an old garage site to the rear of Throstle Road North and Dolphin Road in Middleton that has not been used for some time. The Panel are going to clear the derelict old garages, cut back the overgrowth and enclose the area with fencing. The plot of land will then be converted into individual allotments and used by local residents as well as providing a plot for the use of children from Sharpe Lane Primary School.
We're always looking for new ideas as to how we can help to improve your neighbourhoods and communities. We would love to hear from you, so, if do you do have ideas for a project, please contact us:
By telephone: 0113 2141952
By E-Mail: avhleeds.innersouth@avhleeds.org.uk