University Community construction partnership transforms local women’s centre garden

On Thursday, 7 June student volunteers and some of the University’s construction partners collaborated to give a makeover to the garden at a centre for vulnerable women.

The local Women’s Direct Access Centre provides support and temporary accommodation for vulnerable women, often escaping domestic violence. After years of neglect and disuse, the centre’s garden has been designed, built and planted from scratch in a joint project.

The project was conceived by staff from the Directorates of Student Experience and Estates & Facilities, working with construction partners involved in the Campus Masterplan. Laing O’Rourke, Planit and Arcadis contributed time and resources to turn the garden from an empty and unloved space to a thriving garden full of flowers, edible plants and trees.

The new garden offers a peaceful and relaxing environment which allows the staff to prioritise psychological wellbeing as part of their holistic approach to supporting the residents. The impact goes even further with opportunities for the women to get involved in planting, watering and ongoing maintenance in the garden.

Beyond the significant impact on the community, the project has also given student volunteers the opportunity to be part of an exciting collaborative project, giving them an insight into social responsibility in action. Their continued commitment to volunteering with the centre will ensure the sustainable impact of this project.