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


Consett Heritage Project / February 13th, 2025
Kieron Kelly - Consett Heritage Podcast
Kieron Kelly, a fourth-generation resident of Consett, reflects on how life and opportunities in the town have changed since the closure of the steelworks. He also highlights the various volunteering and sporting opportunities available to children and young people in the area.
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / November 11th, 2024
Aspirations and Future Planning / November 11th, 2024
Know Your Neighbourhood Project / November 11th, 2024
Aimee's Exciting Start to a New Academic Year
After a busy start to the new academic year, our Newcastle University Intern, Aimee Wager, shares some of the incredible work that the charity has been getting involved in over the past seven weeks. She reflects on all of the wonderful opportunities she has been given since beginning her placement in September.
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / June 17th, 2018
Improving the Self-Belief of Teenage Girls
Our film documents and explains the impact of our Building Self-Belief programme with Year 9 Girls at Consett Academy, County Durham. The programme helps the young people to grow in confidence and encourages them to be more aspirational about their future careers. It was a privilege to work with them.