Ashfield Voluntary Action (AVA) can build a shed with students from Vision West Notts College at Harcourt Street Allotments in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, thanks to a £1176 donation from Mansfield Building Society.
AVA submitted an application to The Mansfield’s Community Support Scheme (CSS) earlier this year, looking to fund the 10ft x 6ft shed and a 2ft covered veranda to provide much needed seating and shelter for all allotment users.
Whilst the overall project belongs to AVA, they have used the opportunity to provide vital training hours to construction students from Vision West Notts College. Students built the shed from scratch with materials provided by AVA and the donation from the Mansfield.
Vickie Preston, Head of HR, who oversees the scheme, said “The Mansfield prides itself on supporting its local community and this project flew through the application process because it aligned so well with the Society’s core values.
It’s fantastic to be a part of this collaboration. As an employer we support local organisations with volunteering hours allocated to all staff – so a project that brings the volunteering sector together with students that will be our next generation of skilled construction workers is something we didn’t hesitate to fund.”
AVA’s Step By Step Coordinator, Sylvia Porter commented:
“Thanks to the very generous donation from the Mansfield Building Society, which covered shed materials, we were not only able to provide shelter and secure storage for allotment users, we have also been able to provide hands-on training to construction students at Vision West Notts College.”
To learn more about the work of Ashfield Voluntary Action visit ashfieldvoluntaryaction.org.uk
If you are a local charity or organisation looking for project funding and would like more information on the Community Support Scheme, please visit mansfieldbs.co.uk/community-support-scheme
If you have any projects that need voluntary support, please email [email protected]