The Project 

The Joy community ASPIRE project

BCP Council’s Greenspace Development team held a long-standing wish to revitalise Churchill Gardens through the Masterplan for Boscombe. Partnering with the Communities team on the EU-funded Aspire programme meant that a new building could be realised at the centre of the park and the community, providing a modern accessible meeting point.

The modular ASPIRE building was installed & completed in July 2022, when the Joy Café moved in, having for 7 years served the local community firstly as a ‘pop-up’ in the park, and from 2018 in a converted shipping container. The café is open 6 days a week, and refreshments include freshly made hand roasted coffee, toasted sandwiches and delicious locally baked cakes including gluten-free and vegan choices.

The café is adjacent to the children’s play area, and the communal garden set up by Boscombe-based charity Grounded Community.

The aim of the ASPIRE programme has been to help long-term unemployed people boost their self-esteem & wellbeing by supporting them towards employability and healthier, more active lifestyles. Until April 2023 the new hub was home to a cookery club & a range of taster activities (including performing arts, gardening, dance, yoga, meditation & boxercise classes) delivered by the ASPIRE Project with local activity providers including Vita Nova, Bournemouth Wellbeing Experience, Grounded Community, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association, The Friendly Food Club, Qigong, FFAB Art Group and community choir Boscombe Sing.

Although the project came to an end in March 2023, the ASPIRE team worked together with those same providers to continue running activities. That work has resulted in The Boscombe Community Wellbeing Project and formation of the Churchill Gardens Community Association

• Health and wellbeing project to continue in Churchill Gardens, Boscombe (BCP Council, 22 September 2023)

The previous café & community building (the converted shipping container) was removed from the park in January 2024.