Exciting News about our Community Garden

Exercise, Health and Nutrition / Know Your Neighbourhood Project / Benfieldside Community Garden / October 13th, 2023

Exciting News about our Community Garden

Building Self-Belief are delighted to be a new member of the the Social Farms and Gardens. We are in the final stages of securing our 25 year lease in Benfieldside Community Garden. Once this has been confirmed, we are ready to get going on what will be a fabulous transformation.

We Need Your Help

As a project we will need as much support as possible from the community.  As a community garden we want to create a fabulous space that people of all ages can contribute to and enjoy. There will be planters for growing food, and wildflower areas, some mature trees are already there. What we want to d is involve the community on how we redesign the space.

What underpins our purpose is that it is well known that gardening is so good for our physical and our mental health. In our area, many people only have back yards, therefore to have access to a garden is a brilliant new addition to their lives.

Here are some of the benefits to being involved in community gardening:

  • Outdoor gardening can help your body fight disease
  • Regular gardening builds strength, promotes sleep and helps maintain a healthy body weight
  • Gardening can help protect your memory as you get older
  • Gardening is a mood booster
  • Gardening calms you after a stressful event
  • Community gardens foster a feelings of connectivity
  • Gardening can five you a feeling of empowerment


We are open to suggestions about how the space is used, we are also happy for people to give up as much time as they can afford to help us get this project off the ground. If you would like to volunteer in the garden for us, please get in touch.

Volunteer for us

Kye's Kick Off / May 29th, 2025

Shaun Martin- Arbeia Energy

A huge thank you to Shaun Martin from Arbeia Energy for sponsoring the kit, medals and cup for Kye's Kick Off!

Consett Heritage Project / June 15th, 2023

Alan Swinburne- Consett Heritage Podcast

Alan worked at the Steelworks for 17 years in the Technical Research Department. Over the last 20 years he has researched the History of the Steelworks given several talks about his memories of his life at the Works. He also has an extensive collection of photographs and memorabilia from the steelworks.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / August 3rd, 2026

Youth Social Action / August 3rd, 2026

Aspirations and Future Planning / August 3rd, 2026

The Importance of Work Based Learning - Serena

Serena is our latest intern from the University of Sunderland. As part of their final year in their Psychology degree, students get a work placement option. I asked Serena if I could share her thank you message, as I feel it gives a brilliant insight into how important work placements are, alongside academic work.