A Community-Led Approach to Climate Action in Deeplish
Background
Deeplish Community Association is a valued community asset in the centre of Rochdale. The centre, which is currently run by Sohail, has been there since 1989 and exists to provide a welcoming and inclusive space where individuals and families can access resources, build connections and develop their skills.
Connecting with nature
Groundwork began working with Deeplish Community Centre in 2022 through our Bounce Back & Grow initiative, which helped bring residents back together outdoors following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through a series of wellbeing and growing sessions in nearby Stoneyfield Park, we supported local volunteers to create a wildflower meadow and plant fruit bushes in a greenspace next to the community centre. This was a long-held ambition for centre users but one they had been unable to realise due to limited capacity, resources and expertise.
The local community embraced the opportunity to connect with nature and improve their local environment. However, despite their enthusiasm, the community centre lacked suitable outdoor facilities to support any further nature-based activities.
Creating a garden space at Deeplish Community Centre
That challenge provided Sohail and other volunteers to develop a vision for a garden space at Deeplish Community Space. They wanted to create an accessible, welcoming green space that could become a base for education and community engagement in Rochdale, at the same time improving local biodiversity.
In 2023, Groundwork’s Green Space Advisor, Abbie, helped Sohail secure funding from the Green Spaces Fund to create a wildlife area and community garden at the centre and around the building.
Upon receipt of £32,000 volunteers got to work, transforming a piece of bare grass into a functional space which included over 100 native plants, seating areas and educational signage.
The new greenspace has allowed the local community to truly embrace and regularly connect with nature. The centre now host a wide variety of outdoor events, from summer holiday clubs to composting workshops.
What was once a neglected space is now a vibrant, shared asset for the whole community
Sohail, Centre Manager
Community climate conversations
The following year Groundwork’s Community Climate Action Lead, Lydia, began working with Deeplish Community Centre to develop a Climate and Sustainability Roadmap and Action Plan which harnessed the communities interest in nature to wider climate issues.
This began with a series of facilitated climate conversation workshops to educate and empower the community around proportionate climate action.
From here Lydia arranged more specific engagement activities on three topics the community highlighted as important to them;
- Recycling and waste
- Nature
- Low carbon food
Sharing sustainable ideas
Lydia ran sessions which informed centre users about how these topics impact our planet. From here the community discussed and shared ideas about what they could do differently locally, which would also make a difference globally. This included:
- Idea 1 – More culturally appropriate signage created by centre users so the community know how to properly dispose of waste
- Idea 2 – Helped them come up with plans for seasonal growing and to explore working with local schools and our outdoor learning officer on forest schools
- Idea 3 – From our low carbon cooking session, the DCA’S Holiday Activities Fund programme are going to develop cooking classes and a community café with the young people
Lydia has made so much difference into our neighbourhood and community
Sohail, Centre Manager
Reducing the centre’s carbon footprint
Groundwork Sustainability Consultants were also able to support the Deeplish Community Association to reduce their carbon footprint and become a community retrofit pioneer.
As part of VCSE Energy Efficiency scheme, consultants conducted an energy audit which helped Suhail understand where the biggest emissions were coming from and outlined a list of actions that need could make the building more energy efficient and reduce the centre’s carbon emissions.
Energy efficiency in the community
In 2024 Groundwork’s Green Doctors began delivered an energy-focused project with residents in the Deeplish area. Through targeted home visits, we provided tailored advice and support to help households improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.
This was supported by climate conversation workshops at Deeplish Community Centre which was also became home to monthly energy efficiency drop-in events. These events created opportunities for residents to ask questions about heating their homes for less, learn more about home retrofit options and explore practical ways to make their homes warmer and more sustainable.
This work has increased local awareness and engagement around energy efficiency and has inspired the Community Centre to develop ambitions for its own sustainability improvements, including the potential installation of solar panels and an air source heat pump.
Strengthening connection with Stoneyfield Park
Stoneyfield Park has long been a valued community asset for Deeplish Community Centre, located just a 10-minute walk away. In fact, it was at the park where Groundwork first connected with Sohail almost five years ago, making it fitting that this relationship has continued to grow and flourish since the establishment of the Stoneyfield Green Community Hub.
The Green Community Hub has become a focal point for partnership working, with many activities co-designed and delivered alongside Deeplish Community Centre. Local volunteers have played a leading role in initiatives such as planter decoration, school engagement projects and the development of a nature trail, helping to create a welcoming and vibrant green space for the wider community. The centre has further strengthened its connection to the park by running a weekly children’s club, encouraging young people to learn, play and engage with nature.
A special thanks goes to Deeplish Community Centre for its continued support of the Hub, including hosting the Green Community Hub Steering Group meetings. By providing a welcoming indoor space, the centre has helped ensure that partners and residents can come together year-round to shape plans, share ideas and drive the future development of this important community resource.
What’s next for Deeplish Community Centre?
Looking ahead, Deeplish Community Centre and Groundwork share a strong ambition to build on the success of their partnership and continue creating positive opportunities for local residents.
Future plans include ongoing collaboration through the Stoneyfield Green Community Hub, developing new environmental projects, community events, volunteering opportunities and activities that encourage people of all ages to connect with nature and take action on issues which matter to them. By working together, both organisations hope to strengthen community engagement, improve local green spaces and ensure residents have a voice in shaping the future of their neighbourhood.
Alongside these aspirations, work is also underway to introduce a Digital Doctors programme, helping residents develop the confidence and skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital world. The programme would provide practical support to improve digital literacy, access online services and use technology safely and effectively. A particular focus would be on ensuring local people can access timely information and advice during emergency weather-related events, helping communities become more informed, connected, and resilient in the face of climate change and other challenges, building on the work delivered through the Communities Prepared project.