Giving back to the community – Kingseat Avenue
The Challenge
The outdoor drying area had become neglected over time, offering little purpose or appeal to residents. For families temporarily rehoused due to crisis, the absence of a safe outdoor space created additional barriers at an already difficult time. Kingseat Avenue staff highlighted the need for:
• A child-friendly environment where young people could play safely
• A welcoming, calming setting for families dealing with trauma and instability
• A space that promotes routine, outdoor activity, and community connection
• Features that support both creative play and quiet sensory activities
The goal was to turn an unused, unattractive area into a resource that genuinely improves daily life for residents in transition.
About the Project
Community Benefit Spotlight: Transforming Kingseat Avenue into a Safe, Vibrant Play & Support Space
VWS was delighted to deliver a meaningful community benefit project at Kingseat Avenue, an accommodation-based housing support service that provides temporary homes and wrap-around support for up to 19 individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
For many residents, Kingseat Avenue is a crucial stepping stone toward rebuilding stability. Recognising the importance of safe, welcoming outdoor spaces in supporting wellbeing, routine, and recovery, we partnered with the service to transform a disused drying area—once unsightly, overgrown, and uninviting—into a vibrant, multi-use play and wellbeing space for children and families.Our team worked closely with Kingseat Avenue to design a space that promotes play, creativity, relaxation, and social connection. Using resident and staff feedback, we developed a practical but imaginative plan to maximise the site’s potential.
Key improvement works included:
• Enhanced privacy and aesthetics through installation of black mesh and bamboo screening
• Removal of obsolete infrastructure, including old washing line poles, with all ground areas repaired
• Creation of a sensory zone with new decking, a decorative flower wall, and calming design features
• Bright, engaging repainting of storage sheds in a vibrant beach-hut style
• Repairs and creative murals on boundary walls, including a football design and dedicated art area
• Play markings such as a colourful hopscotch layout
• Clearing, weeding, and preparation of all ground surfaces
The space was further enhanced with a wide range of supplied items, including brightly painted picnic benches, children’s seating, wooden planters, a mud kitchen, sensory-area furniture, and outdoor toys.
The Solution
The completed transformation has turned a once-unused courtyard into a safe, uplifting, multi-functional outdoor area that now supports the wellbeing of residents of all ages. The garden now provides:
• A dedicated children’s play zone with games, toys, and space to explore
• A sensory and calming area offering a peaceful retreat
• Opportunities for creative engagement, including art areas and planters
• Spaces for social interaction, encouraging bonding and reducing isolation
This investment in community wellbeing reflects VWS’s ongoing commitment to delivering meaningful, locally focused community benefits that extend beyond our contracted works and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
