The coming together of HYPE East Lothian (Helping Young People Engage) and Crofthead Farm Community Centre in Livingston, is a super blend of placemaking and heritage facilities. Crofthead is a 19th century farm converted to community centre offering facilities for all age groups and abilities. The young people at HYPE were running a Green Gym in the garden, and part of the Gym programme is for the young people to take a lead on what should happen in the garden. The group consulted with the Community Council, and other users of the Community Centre (a children’s nursery, café and various groups) before making their Seedcorn application.

As the only users of the overgrown garden currently, they decided to apply for funds for outdoor consultation events, plus some materials for a wildlife pond and citizen science activities which will see practical improvements taking place at the same time as the community consultations about the garden. The 15 young people currently using the garden look forward to seeing many more members of the community involved.  

Find out more about Crofthead Farm Community Centre

Find out more about The HYPE programme

More Young Placechangers case studies

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greenspace scotland engages and empowers young people through the Young Placechangers programme.

Young Placechangers puts young people in the lead role – bringing together the wider community to look at local spaces and plan improvements. The Young Placechangers programme has used a co-production approach to develop and pilot a training and support programme enabling young people to transform both the place they live, their relationship to it and the wider community.

Young Placechangers