Partner Story - Newark and Sherwood District Council

Reach has worked closely with Newark and Sherwood District Council (NSDC) for many years, working together to find creative, mutually beneficial solutions to problems that benefit our clients and the wider community.

A few years ago, our increasing client numbers in Newark meant we urgently needed new premises. Discussion with NSDC ultimately led us to take over the day-to-day management of a community centre in Hawtonville. This provides us with a spacious and well-resourced centre during the week, creates a new income stream from hiring out the facilities whilst maintaining a community asset for the benefit of local people during evenings and
weekends.

Last year we again worked with the District Council to take on the management of another valuable local asset – a community garden close to our Reach Newark centre. Our new Flower Pod Newark outdoor centre will offer Newark clients the therapeutic benefits of nature and create new volunteering opportunities for local people. At the same time the site has huge potential for increasing biodiversity by transforming part of a ‘green
corridor’ connecting domestic gardens, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Nature is a common theme in our relationship with NSDC. Flower Pod Newark’s ‘Walk & Grow’ Project was funded by a grant from Active Notts, in which Newark and Sherwood District Council is a partner. The funding enabled clients to increase their daily steps in a therapeutic outdoor environment. Elsewhere, clients have enjoyed being part of the District Council’s contribution to local and national initiatives like community litter picks and wildlife counts. Working in partnership means that we can offer our clients the chance to become active, engaged citizens alongside
other local people.

NSDC is also supportive of our new work to provide housing solutions. Their agreement that our Southwell accommodation could represent the affordable housing element of a new development is a creative solution to a national issue. We have also worked with the Council to initiate a housing solution for two clients in need in Newark.

The opportunities Reach provides for its clients are invaluable, allowing them to reach their full potential, take part in lots of creative activities, make new friends and learn new skills. We are pleased to have been partnered with Reach for several years. The group is an integral part of our community and makes a significant contribution to the achievement of the Council’s Community Plan Objectives.”

Councillor Tim Wendels, Chair of Homes and Communities at Newark and Sherwood District Council