Connected places

School site to community asset

The Upshire train carriage

From an unused train carriage to a core community asset, located on the Upshire Primary School site, the Opening Schools Facilities funded project has grown from strength to strength.

Building on the earlier investment, the school have now significantly enhanced both its extracurricular provision and cemented its role within the local community.

Active Essex have supported Upshire Primary School throughout the Opening Schools Facilities process, from application through to delivery, helping the school clearly articulate its aims and develop a viable, sustainable plan for community access. Due to the West Teams relationships with the school, Epping Forest District Council and local activity providers, they have been able to join up successful elements of the local offer, to provide further opportunities for residents to get active.

See the impact it can have on the community.

Core impact

Becoming a community hub

Although utilised by the school and its pupils, Upshire Primary have introduced an electrical fob entry system around the school’s perimeter to ensure the local community and nearby delivery instructors can also utilise the venue. The Epping Forest District Council Youth Club and deliverers of Essex ActivAte (Holiday Activity and Food programme) clubs are now utilising the site for wider community engagement. The carriage has become a safe and vibrant space where young people can be themselves. Through the Youth Express youth club, it has encouraged creativity, connection and fun. One young person said: “This is a place I can come to switch off from the dark world, I can relax and be myself.” The introduction of the train carriage has enabled the school to transition from having no hire model, to welcoming external groups, sports providers and community organisations on site. As a result, this represents the start of a new income stream, supports long-term sustainability and reinvests into pupil’s wider wellbeing.

regular young people utilising the train carriage as part of the Essex Youth Club

summer sessions held at the site by Time for Change through HAF programme

£4,000

expected income created for the school due to external hirers using the site

The carriage is now regularly used by youth and holiday providers with all income reinvested to further enhance the space. The journey has strengthened our community connections and created opportunities for children that would not have been possible otherwise.

Julie Hockley, Upshire School Business Manager

Review of the local sport and physical activity pathways is now underway, to ensure the school can continue to grow its community partnerships.

There has been a strong emphasis placed on the programme’s sustainability through the co-design of future clubs with parents and pupils, ensuring community voice is at the heart of the decision making.

This has become a real sustainable community hub. Yes, it has taken time, careful planning and a phased approach, but it has now provided a demonstrable model for how similar primary schools can unlock community value through targeted investment and partnership working.

Emma Meek, Active Essex Relationship Development Officer, West Essex