Contractors working together to create new community hub in South Shore

Contractors working with Blackpool Council have joined forces to create a new community space in South Shore, aiming to upskill residents and help create a more resilient community.

Working in collaboration with Community First Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, ten Blackpool Council contractors are delivering the project through their social value commitments.

The council asks all contractors it works with to deliver social value by giving something back to local communities. This can take many forms, including supporting local charities, creating training and employment opportunities for residents, and providing educational visits to inspire young people.

As part of Community First’s ‘Borrow IT’ project, the contractors are all working together to renovate three adjoining empty properties on Lytham Road. The properties, owned by Blackpool Council, are being converted into a larger community space to be used by residents to learn new skills and access household equipment.

Once complete, the renovated community space will run a variety of workshops, including DIY, to help residents wanting to make small improvements around their properties by providing them with the skills and confidence to carry out the work. The sessions will be run by Community First and will include a variety of other useful skills including sewing and decorating.

The new hub will also include space to store a range of donated equipment, which will be available for residents to borrow for short-term use. Items will include household items such as air fryers, steam irons, gardening equipment and tools for DIY.

To further help the community, the workshop space is also planning to hold various sessions to help with everyday issues such as debt management, housing advice and addiction support. The sessions will make information on important topics easily accessible and signpost to further help.

Together, ten contractors are contributing labour, materials and equipment to help create the new community space. Drawing on their expertise from across the construction sector, the contractors are delivering everything from project management, demolition and site clearance through to plumbing, brickwork repairs and painting and decorating.

The work is expected to be completed early next year. The next stage of the project will be community-led, with residents having the chance to get involved in decorating and furnishing the space to make it their own.

Cllr Matthew Thomas, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, said: "We're proud to work with contractors who share our commitment to creating lasting value for Blackpool.

‘’Social value is at the heart of every contract we award, ensuring that investment in essential everyday services and regeneration projects deliver benefits that extend far beyond the work itself.

"It's fantastic to see our contractors coming together to support local communities and make a real difference to people's lives.

‘’The new Community First hub will provide opportunities for residents to learn valuable life skills and access equipment and support that can help them through the ongoing cost of living challenges, delivering practical benefits where they are needed most.

"By working in partnership, we're helping to build stronger communities, supporting local people into opportunities, and helping to make Blackpool better."

Emma Whitty-Haddock, Deputy CEO at Community First, added: "Social value has been instrumental in helping Borrow IT turn a dream into reality. Without this support, our Do It Hub simply would not have happened.

‘’It has created opportunities for our community to access an inventory of items, learn new skills and work together, leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit local people for years to come."

For more details on regeneration plans in Blackpool, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk/BetterBlackpool