Esh Construction has provided funding of £8200 to a Rotherham homeless charity, as part of its commitment to YORhub’s YOR4Good Fund. A community garden at Lighthouse Homes has been redeveloped in time for Spring, in a bid to promote positive mental wellbeing and outdoor activities for young men that are facing homelessness.

The charity is a 17-bed hostel, set up to give men over the age of 18 continuous support with homelessness, poverty, and drug and alcohol abuse. The garden’s makeover was part of an initiative to enhance the quality of life for the Lighthouse Homes residents, creating a space for them to engage in outdoor activities.

The funding was used to purchase materials and provide resources for the new garden area, including a space for residents to grow fruit and vegetables for the facility – with the use of the outdoor area intended to help residents on the road to recovery, improving mental health and wellbeing.

Martin Haigh, Support Manager from Lighthouse Homes, said: “The provision of a quiet green space is an essential part of what we offer to our residents in Rotherham. We are very grateful to Esh Construction for the work done and the way they did it. They minimised disruption and were polite and courteous at every contact we have had with them.”

A team of agricultural students from RNN Group volunteered to help deliver the project alongside Esh Construction, by upcycling existing benches, installing sleepers, paving, and creating a planting area that can be used by the residents. Patience Middleton, RNN student, said:

“I have really enjoyed participating in practical activities on site, as it has allowed me to work outside of my comfort zone and given me valuable knowledge and skills by working with industry specialists. Completing this project with the Esh team has given me an insight into how to work together to complete a project, and I feel confident that I can take what I have learnt on site into my future careers.”

The volunteering project for RNN students was facilitated by Esh Construction as part of its social value commitment to the Rotherham Riverside project. Located mere metres from Lighthouse Homes, the £4.1 million public realm improvement scheme, procured through YORhub’s YORcivil2 framework on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, will support riverside development in the town centre.

Megan Roberts, Social Value Manager for Esh in Yorkshire, said:

“The facilities at Lighthouse Homes are incredible. Their work to help young men in the local community is invaluable, and the new garden will provide them with the opportunity to further enhance the support that they offer.” She continued: “ Esh is committed to delivering social value initiatives like this one in the local areas where we are operating. The work that we do is long-term, to create a legacy, and we hope that the new garden will provide support to the residents for many years to come.”

Cllr Sarah Ann Allen, Cabinet Member for Housing from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “Lighthouse Homes, as evidenced by this particular project, is really important to us. We have a rough sleeper and homelessness strategy for the borough, and Lighthouse Homes make an important contribution to this. We are extremely grateful for the work that Esh Construction and the RNN students have completed for the residents at Lighthouse homes, as the benefits that they will gain from the new garden are endless.”