Back in April 2025, thanks to funding from Sheffield City Council through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), we got the chance to collaborate with Broomhall Centre in Sheffield. The centre already runs all sorts of brilliant community groups and sessions, but like many places, resources for new activities can be a bit limited. That’s where we thought our courses might fit in.

To start things off, we ran a one-off zine-making workshop during their Wednesday afternoon Welcome Space. People came along, picked a topic that mattered to them, and made their own mini handmade zine with the help of our facilitators. It was a fun, creative icebreaker that also gave us the chance to chat with folks, hear about their interests, and get a feel for what might work in the longer term.

After the zine session, we teamed up with Kate, the Activities Lead at Broomhall Centre, to figure out what to do next. The group had shown a real interest in our four-week gardening course, and since the centre already had a community-run garden, it felt like the perfect fit. Before jumping in, we sat down with Kate and the garden volunteers to make sure whatever we did would be useful long-term—not just something that looked nice for a bit but then became too much to manage. For example, we avoided adding plants that needed a lot of upkeep, and instead leaned into ideas that would genuinely benefit the space and the people using it.

When the course began, collaboration was at the heart of everything. Participants—many of whom were already regulars at the centre—worked together to plan projects they could realistically complete in four sessions. With input from Kate and the garden volunteers, they shaped the course themselves. Along the way, people picked up new skills, from practical stuff like using a drill to bigger-picture thinking about design, planning, and creating for community spaces.

In the end, the group built two new benches and two large planters for the garden—projects that not only boosted their confidence and skills but also added lasting value to the space. The benches created more places for people to sit and enjoy the garden, while the planters expanded its growing potential. Participants told us they felt “fulfilled” and “satisfied” by making something for the wider community, and many noticed a real lift in their confidence, self-esteem, and mental wellbeing.

This project was such a good reminder of why we love co-creating courses rather than sticking to a top-down, expert-led approach. By listening, adapting, and building together, we could tailor the sessions to what people actually wanted and needed. And the benefits went beyond woodworking skills—participants also grew in collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking, skills they can carry into all areas of life.

Working with the staff and volunteers ahead of time also meant that the changes and additions made to the garden space would be used and benefit the space long past the end of the course.

Co-creation with community is an integral part of Brightbox’s work and aims because of the profound impacts it has. As an approach, it decentres the idea of the “expert” teacher and supports creative and collaborative thinking. This helps to foster an in depth understanding among participants about what it means to create for shared spaces and how to think and plan in a way that centres community needs rather than individual ones, an understanding which has benefits beyond the workshop space.

Our time at Broomhall Centre showed just how powerful that can be—for the space itself and for the people who use it.

A huge thank you to Kate, the volunteers, and everyone at Broomhall Centre for welcoming us and co-creating with us so generously.