GEML Ladywood

Posts Tagged ‘The Pod’

The POD at 28 Oliver Street is the base for Nechells+ Education Action Zone, Heartlands Extended Services Cluster and the Looked After Children Education Service Outreach Team.  It is a community centre that offers advice, support, guidance and training to the local community and schools, play schemes and activities for children and young people and a meeting place for statutory and voluntary organisations and their clients.

The POD has been developed internally to include meeting rooms, a conference room, community area and youth zone and externally there is a wonderful outdoor learning area.  Staff at the POD were very enthusiastic at the prospect of the constituency Grow It, Eat It, Move It, Live It project since it gave the opportunity  to further develop the site for use by children, young people and families and community members.

The POD has established six “grow beds” funded through the Education Action Zone with advice from Debbie Jones, GEML co-ordinator, and the supports of the Community Payback team, local schools and community members.  There are two raised grow beds and four ground level beds to ensure everyone in the community can have the opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables.  This has been a very exciting project which has been supported by local community members, Bloomsbury Nursery and Children’s Centre, Heartlands Academy, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Cromwell Primary School, who have developed the allotments and have produced a variety of fruit and vegetables including runner beans, strawberries, marrows, tomatoes, cabbage, turnips and much more.

Other schools including Nechells Primary School, St Matthew’s CE Primary School and St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School have been involved in the project by cultivating fruit and vegetables on their own sites.  GEML has proved to be a fantastic opportunity for children, young people and adults in Nechells to grow their own produce and enjoy working outdoors, develop new skills and friendships.

For further information about activities taking place at The POD please log onto our website at: www.nechellspod.com

The Pod is already becoming a successful site, led by a local resident with growing know how.  More updates coming soon!…..