Stiebel Eltron turns up heat for Bromborough community initiative.
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A leading Wirral based manufacturer has donated heating equipment, worth £350 to the Bromborough based market garden initiative for young people, the Dig It Project.
Stiebel Eltron is based near the project on Wirral International Business Park and was approached by local councillor Steve Niblock to help with refurbishment work at the initiative (see background).
Stiebel Eltron’s UK managing director Mark McManus offered his support after Cllr Niblock explained that young people at the project were looking for help. Following the Wirral Youth Voice Conference a group of Dig It youngsters presented a proposal for refurbishment to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style panel, featuring local businesses from the Wirral. Although the judges were impressed the Dig It team’s proposal did not win a cash prize.
Mr McManus said he was more than happy to lend a helping hand when he learnt about Dig It’s work and the refurbishment ideas.
“Dig It does an enormous amount of good for the area helping young people develop their life skills,” he said. “Stiebel Eltron is a local company and we want to support projects which make a real difference to our community.”
The refurbishment project is now underway with the heaters being installed with labour provided by Wirral Partnership Homes. The heaters will benefit the young people who will be attending the 6 week media courses once the rooms are fully refurbished.
As well as maintaining the market garden, young people have recently participated in alcohol and drug misuse awareness workshops at the project as well as First Aid courses.
In the kitchen and dining area, the youngsters are encouraged to cook and eat the produce they have grown.
Dig It background
The Dig It Project launched on April 1 2006. It was founded to help give young local people ‘something to do’, a constructive interest which developed their life skills. The project’s founders are Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, South Wirral Young People’s Project, a member of the Wirral Youth Service Outreach Team, and local councillors. The founders identified derelict land at Bromborough Community Fire Station which was made available for the creation of a market garden which the young people then named the Dig It Project. Youth workers from South Wirral Young People’s Project have worked with young people from Eastham, Bromborough, Bebington and New Ferry to develop the market garden.
On the site, a single storey building was made available and has proved to be a valuable asset. Not only is it a storage facility for the gardening equipment, much of which has been provided by the Police from confiscated goods, but it is also a venue for group work activities. Work on the market garden is planned and reviewed there.
