MANY organisations and residents have come together to support the Friends of Skelton Community Orchard (FOSCO) fully refurbish their shed to meet the volunteers’ needs and allow them to hold future events and workshops for the community.
The FOSCO group was formed 10 years ago to create and look after the Ringrose Community Orchard in Skelton. They started to use the shed two years later as a space for volunteers. At the time, the building was in dire need of repairs, with holes in the roof, broken doors and no running water or electricity. This prompted the group to improve the conditions for their volunteers, which soon became a community effort.
Several organisations and individuals helped with funding and services including Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the Tees Valley Rural Fund, the Tees Valley Community Fund, the National Lottery Fund, Northumbrian Water, Woodsmiths Foundation, and East Cleveland Good neighbours. The project was part-funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A brand new and fully equipped kitchen was offered by Howdens in Skelton, while Green & Son Building Services provided two new doors and constructions materials at base cost. Gary Wood, owner of WOODsmith’s Constructions, and a local who cares deeply about Skelton and the group, offered his services for free and, according to the group, “went out of his way to help.”
The shed now has a fully refurbished roof, a new kitchen, new toilets, including one for disabled people, as well as running water and electricity. The volunteers have also been involved in the renovation, one of them redoing the electric system and many others helping with the painting.
One of the highlights of this project will be two mosaics which will be created on the outside of the shed by local primary school children, bringing a splash of colour to the building.
Joyce, the FOSCO Treasurer, said: “The main beneficiaries of the shed will be the volunteers. Because now we have proper toilets, a kitchen where we can make a fresh cup of tea. The facilities for the volunteers are vastly improved and that’s what we wanted from this project.”
Future events will be held there by the group, such as history displays, crafting workshops and sessions for glass painting, rug making and willow weaving. There are also plans for a collaboration with the Menshed, from Footprints in the Community, to run mental health and wellbeing sessions.
Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Adam Brook, said: “The Friends of Skelton Community Orchard are a valued volunteering group within our local communities and the Ringrose Orchard an important place for all locals. We were very pleased to support the group in the refurbishment of the shed and it was impressive to see how many people and organisations got involved to support the project.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m delighted the rural grant fund is doing exactly what it set out to do and helping vital community projects like this one.
“Volunteers are the beating heart of so many good things across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – and this refurbished base shows what can be achieved when everyone works together.”