Appeal for volunteers
Two chances to do your bit in the community
You can help get Stonehouse moving by volunteering at two exciting events over the next month.
The community days are part of the Make Your Way arts, heritage and active travel project.
Enthusiastic volunteers with a few hours to spare are sought to get involved with the handson practical opportunities in various locations in Stonehouse, led by Clydesdale Community Initiatives.
First up, you can create an outdoor learning space at Newfield Primary School on Monday, July 31, from 10.30am until 2pm.
Then you can install a ‘Journey Box’ on the Make Your Way trails, between 1.30pm and 3pm on Tuesday, August 8.
Both of the volunteer tasks are part of the Make Your Way project which launched last October, encouraging communities in Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse to walk and cycle more locally, whilst exploring the heritage on their doorsteps.
The Make Your Way team work with communities and schools to identify heritage points and routes in order to create new trails.
As part of the engagement process, outdoor education workshops connecting school pupils with their green spaces and environment take place, involving fun events like ecodying and kite-making.
Artists in Residence were also commissioned to create site-specific art installations in response to community consultations and research along the newly-created trails in each of the five locations.
For the Newfield Primary event on July 31, meet at the school gates at 10.30am. Volunteers will help to create an outdoor learning space to enable the school to engage in a long-term outdoor learning programme.
Located in an area of privately-owned green space opposite the school, the site was recently used for Make Your Way outdoor education activities and made more accessible to pupils through a unique ‘backpack ladder’ which allows entry to the site over a wire fence.
Volunteers will be involved in general site clearance including litter picking and strimming to create paths and learning areas.
No experience is required as training will be given by Clydesdale Community Initiatives.
For the ‘Journey Box’ art installations on August 8, meet at Stonehouse Lifestyles Centre at 1.30pm.
The 16 timber boxes, which are categorised as either ‘heritage’ or ‘nature’, were crafted by Make Your Way Artists in Residence for Stonehouse, Martyn Mckenzie and Kate Mcallan. And the collection of Journey Boxes will be installed throughout Stonehouse – each containing objects, artefacts, and imagery relating to the heritage and natural assets of the village.
They were created in partnership with the community and led on from a Journey Boxes outdoor arts workshop that took place in March, where participants produced their own collection of artwork to keep.
The Journey Box idea was partly inspired by geo-caching, and the installations have been created to encourage conversation about local heritage and environment. Objects and pieces of art can be swapped and recorded in the accompanying log book.
Volunteers will be involved in installing pre-made timber posts along the Stonehouse Make Your Way trails. No experience is required as training will be given by Clydesdale Community Initiatives.
Please register for each of the sessions by contacting enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211. Volunteers are asked to wear weather appropriate clothing. Tools and personal protection equipment will be provided.
Donna Marshall, CAVLP programme manager, said: “Volunteers who are able to join in on either day in Stonehouse will be playing a vital role in the legacy of the projects and the impact they will have for locals.
“We’re extremely proud that access to a new outdoor learning space will be created for pupils at Newfield Primary School, enabling them to embark on an outdoor education programme.
“It’s increasingly recognised that outdoor education is imperative for childhood development, especially in this age where screen time is often the more popular choice over wild time.
“Volunteers who are able to help install the Journey Boxes’ timber posts are making it possible for the local community and visitors to enjoy and explore what Stonehouse has to offer. We would encourage anyone who has the time to help out – we can’t do it alone.”