A team of care experienced young people has created unique signposts in Buile Hill Park to help visitors find Salford’s “hidden oasis”.
The Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) led an eight-week community initiative with care leavers in partnership with the Growing Togetherness project.
Fifteen service users from the Next Step Project Salford and the Moving On Up Project (MOUP) designed and created the signs with guidance from Paul Pickford, Salford-based freelance artist and partner of GMYN.
Next Steps Salford, MOUP and GMYN offer support to care experienced young people (CEYP); helping them make positive impacts on their own lives and the wider community as they transition out of care and into adulthood.
The project has been funded by UK Youth’s Inspire Project.
Mark Frith, director of Growing Togetherness, said: “One of the things we’ve always struggled with is signage on site, so…having an artist and a group of willing [participants] getting on board…is fantastic for us.”
GMYN’s programme coordinator, Bradley Lincoln, said: “The program focuses on creating signage for safety and navigation within the community park” and “educating young participants about horticulture and sustainable food practices.”
Every Wednesday between midday and 4pm, CEYP from Next Steps Salford, GMYN and the Moving On Up Project (MOUP) have gathered at Buile Hill Park to work on the project.
Following a group discussion, the team came up with designs for the signposts and used boards, exterior paints, varnish, lacquer and Posca pens to make the various signposts.
The allotment areas and green environment surrounding the cafe and allotments were described by both Mark and Paul as an “oasis”.
When you get into the “oasis” you can no longer hear or see Salford City centre, you can only hear natural sounds such as bird song and insects and see trees and vegetation.
In addition to helping navigate the site, the signposts will detail the park’s rich vegetation and wildlife including the park’s frequenting birds and dangerous plants.
The collaboration began in June when GMYN were introduced to Mark Frith, from Growing Togetherness, through Paul Pickford who has worked on a number of projects with GMYN, including the renovation of the Next Steps Project’s building last year.
Paul said: “This is an opportunity to add some artwork to a public space and also for them to take on board what the space is about…to meet people that they probably wouldn’t do in their normal day.
“So that they’re meeting people from different backgrounds who they’ve found similarity with in terms of a history in Salford [with the] same kind of goals, hopes and ambitions.”
Brad Lincoln illustrated the importance and benefit of conducting these kind of programmes for young people, especially those who are care experienced.
He said: “Projects like this play a vital role in promoting wellbeing. It’s fantastic to see young people step outside of their accommodations and connect with others in the community.
“One young individual expressed their desire for their school teacher to witness their achievements here, as they were often discouraged and told they couldn’t do anything right”.
The participants were free to come and go from the project as they pleased with access to the program available for them outside of regular hours.
Paul Pickford also highlighted the positive outcomes of the project for the young people, he said: “It’s helped them enormously with people skills.
“For [the team] to see food being grown in the natural environment successfully in the middle of Salford is quite a thing.”
GMYN and the teams involved, wanted to promote healthy eating habits, mindfulness and the benefits of working in a green environment throughout the project.
A member of GMYN, Luke Clarke, expressed how being surrounded by the natural environment was “so inspiring” for him, he continued: “Seeing all the stuff that’s grown…the allotments, fresh veg and seeing flowers and everything, is nice.”
For Mark Frith, the project is beneficial for multiple reasons, he said: “One of the demographics that our project has really missed out on is…teenagers to 20, 30 year olds.
“We’ve got young children, young families, we’ve got retired people, we’ve got people with support and mental health needs and physical health needs.
“So [the team] coming in has…added a different dynamic of people in the area and everyone’s loved to see [them] being part of it.”
The program will finish in a few weeks with the work so far being a huge success.
The CEYP have shown “genuine engagement” with the programme, said Brad, “making the experience truly enjoyable for everyone involved”.
According to Mark, it has been “smooth sailing. We’ve created space in the greenhouse and the pavilion for [the team] to do the artwork.”
Paul said GMYN, Next Steps, MOUP and Growing Togetherness are “ideal partners” adding that “it’s been incredibly smooth and it shows with the groups…they will get here independently and want to”.
He added: “I think the idea that the signage has a lack of permanence so that…it could be something that’s developed in the future, but it’s very much theirs now.”
Brad from GMYN, said; “Mark, along with all the dedicated volunteers, staff and visitors have wholeheartedly embraced both the young people and the project.”
And although they were sometimes dealing with adverse weather conditions, Brad continued: “Thanks to this support, the journey has been smooth and hassle-free.”
The Friends of Buile Hill Park and Growing Togetherness host lots of community-centred events, including ‘Seedley Sounds” and car boots.
In three weeks the team plan to have signposts completed and installed throughout the park, with hopes that this will help the community navigate their way around the park easier and experience all the beauty that Buile Hill Park has to offer.
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