Case Study:

Helping people build confidence, improve wellbeing and get active while making local green spaces better for everyone.

For more than 10 years, Transformers North CIC has been using outdoor and environmental activities to help people develop new skills, build confidence and improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Through its work at Holroyd Park in Ravensthorpe, the organisation is showing how looking after local green spaces can benefit volunteers, bring communities together and encourage more people to get outdoors and active.

Getting active and giving back

Transformers North supports adults at risk by providing opportunities to take part in practical outdoor projects. Activities help people build self-esteem, develop teamwork skills, improve fitness and gain experience that can support future employment.

As part of the Move More Kirklees project at Holroyd Park, the team has been working alongside Kirklees Council’s Green Space Ranger, Ravensthorpe Residents Action Group and Ravensthorpe in Bloom.

Over six months, volunteers have taken part in regular litter picks, cleared overgrown vegetation, improved footpaths and opened up sightlines to help make the park cleaner, safer and more welcoming.

The team also introduced a simple way to build more movement into its sessions. Instead of travelling directly to the park by vehicle, volunteers met at the Greenwood Centre in Ravensthorpe and walked to the site. Across 11 sessions, this added approximately 5.5km of walking.

It’s a small change that helped volunteers get more active while giving them the chance to explore their local area.

Making a real difference locally

The work at Holroyd Park has helped improve access to green spaces and create more opportunities for people to enjoy being outdoors.

The children’s cycling area has been cleared and opened up, enabling Little Bikers to run regular cycling sessions. Transformers North has also worked to widen and clear sections of the Spen Valley Greenway, an important route for local people walking, running and cycling.

Regular litter picking has improved the appearance of the park, with feedback from project partners suggesting that the amount of rubbish collected has reduced over time.

These improvements help create spaces that people can feel proud of and want to spend time in. By making paths clearer and areas more accessible, Transformers North is helping remove some of the barriers that can prevent people from enjoying their local green spaces.

The benefits go beyond the park

For Transformers North volunteers, the benefits are about much more than the physical work itself.

Taking part in outdoor activities provides opportunities to stay active, socialise, work as a team and experience the satisfaction of seeing the results of their efforts. Positive feedback from local residents also gives volunteers a real sense of achievement and recognition.

The organisation has seen first-hand how physical outdoor work can support fitness, wellbeing and confidence, helping people remain active and connected to others.

The project has also strengthened Transformers North’s relationships with local community groups and partners, while helping the organisation develop its approach to volunteer safety.

Small changes, lasting impact

The response from local residents has shown just how much these improvements matter.

One resident shared their appreciation on social media:

“Best it’s looked by far since we moved here a couple years ago; thank you so much.”

For Transformers North, the project is about creating positive experiences for its volunteers while improving the places that local communities share.

By bringing people together to care for their environment, the organisation is helping people build confidence, move more and make a lasting difference to their local area.

Find out more about Transformers North CIC and its work supporting people through outdoor and environmental activities on their website – https://www.transformersnorth.co.uk/