Together For Our Planet Garden Transformation
At Building Self-Belief CIO we believe that Social Action is an important element of increasing and improving wellbeing and self worth. Our Environmental Programmes help young people develop better connections with their peers, their communities and it gives them a way of improving their own and other people’s lives for the better.
So many young people are conscious of the need to improve our environment and work towards a circular economy - and our projects are helping them do this. With a focus on the environment because of COP26 in Glasgow, we incorporated more of an eco-slant into our work.
Our Environmental Project at Consett Academy aimed to transform a derelict piece of land into a colourful garden for the school to use for educational and wellbeing purposes.
The garden situated just in front of the school was fenced off and out of bounds to pupils due to the ground being too contaminated by glass and rubble.
Thanks to our work with the Year 9 pupils from Consett Academy and funding from the National Lottery we have been able to successfully transform the garden. Furthermore, our work with the Year 9 pupils has helped to inspire an Environmental Ambassadors Youth Panel, which will help Building Self-Belief CIO deliver ‘green’ based schemes across the Consett Area.


“Because of Building Self-Belief, we have actually achieved our goal of making the area safe and serviceable. We now have a dedicated area for wildlife, with wild seeds sowed and new trees planted.Through Christine and Holly from Building Self-Belief we have now transformed that area to becoming truly eco-friendly. A huge thank you from the children and myself for BSBCIO’s unwavering financial and practical support. We love our wellbeing garden.”
- Ms S Hopkins, Consett Academy


Aspirations and Future Planning / July 1st, 2024
Consett "Bridging the Gap Youth Employability Programme."
The Consett "Bridging the Gap Youth Employability Programme" was kindly supported by Newcastle Building Society via the Tyne and Wear Community Foundation, and The Albert Hunt Trust. As part of this the students consulted the young people of the Consett Area as part of the preparation of the Consett Area Neighbourhood Plan..
Consett Heritage Project / December 4th, 2023
Sarah Envy - Consett Heritage Podcast
Sarah is Engagement Manager for The National Lottery Heritage Fund North. Until her involvement in our Consett Heritage Project, she was unaware that this area had such a significant industrial past, and that Consett steel was used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower! From photographs she has seen of the old Consett Ironworks, she now realises that you would have been able to see rows of machinery just over the horizon from the Reservoir, peeking over the ridge of the dam. She believes that we need to continue to provide opportunities to access such a significant part of Consett's heritage. She is particularly excited about the latest Heritage initiative that will truly put Co Durham on the cultural and heritage map!
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / March 21st, 2023
Youth Social Action / March 21st, 2023
Exciting Times for Our Youth Panel!
It has been a busy time for our Youth Panel and some of our Volunteers. We were extremely lucky that the Landmark Trust once again selected us to stay for free for a weekend at Morpeth Castle