Digital skills for the next generation are being delivered to local primary school children through a collaboration between Golden Valley and Jam Coding.
It’s just one example of the long-lasting and positive change that Golden Valley, at West Cheltenham, will deliver as part of its pledge to support residents and communities through a newly revised social value strategy.
It’s just one example of the long-lasting and positive change that Golden Valley, at West Cheltenham, will deliver as part of its pledge to support residents and communities through a newly revised social value strategy.
The council and its chosen developer, HBD, are working together to ensure that Golden Valley delivers real value now and at every stage of the £1bn development. The scheme will bring together businesses, schools, colleges, and universities, as well as international research and development facilities, 1,000 affordable homes, community amenities, and green spaces.
The Jam Coding sessions – sponsored by Golden Valley – are being delivered to four local primary schools, benefitting more than 90 children.
Other positive initiatives, delivered through Golden Valley and designed to link communities together, include a food pantry collection point at the town centre MX building to support West Cheltenham food pantry, as well as the offer of event and meeting rooms for local organisations who’d ordinarily struggle to fund the space.
Key principles at the heart of the social value plan:
- Employment and skill development
- A thriving, innovative economy
- A rich cultural offering
- Health, safety and wellbeing
- Protection of our town’s environment and biodiversity
Councillor Peter Jeffries, deputy leader at Cheltenham Borough Council, said, ‘’We know that the greatest impact is usually achieved when we all work together and that’s what’s behind Golden Valley – particularly our social value promise. Together with HBD, partners and eventually, occupiers, we will make decisions that will maximise community benefit and opportunity, whether that’s through education, employment, housing, environment or wellbeing.
‘’Our social value strategy will deliver a series of activities designed to engage with and give back to the community, for example through school workshops, newsletters, partnership work with No Child Left Behind and the longer term creation of a charter for businesses and occupiers to sign up to, to pledge their commitment to local communities.’’