Volunteers linked to the Oxford North development have helped create a new sensory garden for children with special educational needs at Wolvercote Primary School, while also refurbishing the nearby Wolvercote Young People’s Club.
The two-week initiative, led by Oxford North and delivered with construction and landscaping partners working on the scheme, saw 43 volunteers contribute more than 531 hours across the two sites.
Organisers said the work included the creation of a new SEND sensory garden designed to provide a calm outdoor space where children can explore textures, smells and sounds, as well as upgrades to the youth club building and outdoor areas to make the site more welcoming for young people and families.
A new outdoor space for SEND pupils
The sensory garden, designed by landscape contractor Maylim, is intended to act as a safe outdoor classroom and recreation area for pupils with additional needs. Organisers said some of the planting includes climate-resilient species used in Fallaize Park at Oxford North, giving children a link between the school space and the wider landscape in the new district.
Mandy Hayes, headteacher at Wolvercote Primary School, said the new garden would support a growing number of pupils with complex needs.
“We’re seeing more children with complex needs, and this sensory garden will make a huge difference for them,” she said. “It provides a safe, dedicated space where they can be themselves, explore the world in new ways, and develop their confidence.
“Without the generosity of partners and volunteers, we could never have achieved this within our school budget.”
Youth club refresh aims to create a more inviting hub
At Wolvercote Young People’s Club, volunteers worked on improvements to the building and grounds, with organisers saying the changes are intended to encourage more families to use the space and support the club’s development as a community hub.
Val Tate, chair of Wolvercote Young People’s Club, said the work had made a visible difference.
“The difference this has made is enormous,” she said. “Our building and grounds now look cared for and inviting, encouraging more young people and families to come through our doors.”
Funding, materials and social value
Organisers said the project totalled £12,000 in materials, including £1,000 for plants, and that the wider “social value” generated by the volunteering contribution was calculated at £79,361 using Mace’s social value calculator.
Oxford North is being delivered by Oxford North Ventures, a joint venture between Thomas White Oxford (the development company of St John’s College), Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Stanhope.
Victoria Collett, development director at Thomas White Oxford, said the initiative was part of Oxford North’s Engage programme, which aims to build links with surrounding communities.
“Oxford North isn’t just about creating buildings — it’s about becoming part of the community,” she said. “Seeing our partners and volunteers roll up their sleeves to help has been inspiring.”
Jack Lawrence, senior social value manager at Mace, said the scale of the work was made possible by multiple organisations working together.
“The collaborative approach taken at Oxford North has enabled us to deliver a far larger project than any of the individual organisations involved could have undertaken on their own,” he said.
Glow Gallery science activity for local families
Extending the “sensory” theme, IF Oxford brought its Glow Gallery activity to the Wolvercote Young People’s Club Christmas fair, with organisers saying more than 200 people took part in hands-on experiments involving lasers, LEDs and phosphorescent boards.
Dane Comerford, a director at IF Oxford, said the activity encouraged playful exploration of light, colour and energy.
