As the involvement of Live Project 6 with Chancet Wood Respite Centre draws to an end, we may reflect upon the work produced and look towards the continuing development of a sensory garden at Chancet Wood.
The project began with strong visions. Firstly we were faced with the task of providing wheelchair access to the wider site grounds at the centre. At initial estimations an access path needed to stretch a distance of 160m, rise 2.5m and would cost in excess of £8000. At the same time, the scheme needed to provide sensory improvements in the form of a sensory garden. It was clear that an initial fund of £800 raised by the centre would not suffice to realise the scheme.
From these initial constraints, set alongside high client expectations, we were able to define a working brief. From the brief we set to implement four reciprocal strategies (consult, fund, design and build) in order put in place a workable scheme for the client.
We built a relationship with the staff and young people at the centre and were able to discover their hopes and ideas for the garden. We used our findings to produce a scheme that, above all, worked for them.
Our short term funding strategy secured resources, funds and materials of a ‘total assumed value’ in excess of £4500. In addition we assisted in the submission of long term funding applications to achieve funding for completion of the scheme.
We produced design proposals for a phased development, achievable as and when funding becomes available and we implemented Phases 1 and 2a of the development ourselves during the course of the Live Project.
Phase 2b consists of proposal for the future with an attached initial cost estimate that the centre may take forward and secure additional funding to procure the scheme. The procurement of Phase 2b will ultimately depend upon the success of long term funding applications, but we have secured pledges of materials and the labour forces of the probation service in order to aid the completion of the scheme.
In conclusion, both the Live Project group and the client are very pleased with the results of the project. The staff at the respite centre are delighted that the young users of the centre now have a playful and accessible outdoor space available to them and all are excited about the development of the following phases to allow access to the wider grounds and the top of the site. We see these ‘results,’ not as closures, but rather as apertures to the realisation of the grand vision held by our determined client.
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