In this blog, Dylan Hughes, Evidence Engagement Officer, shares the incredible work from projects funded through the ‘Create Your Space’ funding programme.  

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Create Your Space funding programme has recently come to an end, offering a moment to reflect on its success.  

This ambitious, seven-year programme, running from 2017 to 2024, aimed to transform outdoor spaces in an environmentally sustainable way, with local communities leading the work. With £7.5 million of funding distributed across six projects in Wales, the programme focused on areas that either lacked green spaces or did not utilise available green spaces effectively.  

The funding supported communities truly in need, and its impact was incredibly successful, with funded projects providing thriving green spaces for communities to enjoy. These projects brought a sense of pride back to their communities, and allowed people to collaborate and come together.  

One funded organisation based in Treherbert is Welcome to Our Woods, which hosted a Hydro Jam Session in 2021. This event brought Welsh hip-hop and local artists together for a unique music event, noted as ‘something special involving inclusiveness’ in their annual report. Volunteers attending made lifelong friends through their involvement, cherishing the opportunity to socialise and enjoy time outdoors.  

One volunteer shared that volunteering gave them a ‘new lease of life’, and older volunteers noted it help combat loneliness.  

The evaluation found that these outdoor spaces were being used meaningfully by community members. Volunteers noticed an increase in the number of people enjoying the parks and paths, thanks to both capital improvements and ongoing efforts to encourage people to use green spaces. It also gave communities a new found appreciation for their local natural environments, and a positive shift in attitude towards nature following the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The educational sessions for children and young people also received positive feedback from both volunteers and participants, with one school staff member noting: “The children had a great day developing new and different skills. Many children are disconnected from nature these days and this day showed how much they enjoy themselves”.  

The evaluation also highlighted a number of key learning points. While some projects have strong prospects of being sustainable in the long-term, others may not persist in their current form. Instead, they will adapt and carry on but through the effort from volunteers and partners.  

Those most successful were organisations who have a strong ‘place-based focus’, deeply rooted in the communities they serve, with participants and volunteer engagement throughout the lifecycle of the project being crucial for success.  

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected community engagement and staff availability, the funded projects demonstrated resilience and commendable recovery.  

You can find out more about the Create Your Space funding programme, and access the summary report here.