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Youth organisation target of ‘shocking’ vandalism
An environmental education organisation based in the heart of Easton has been the victim of vandalism.
NYCE (Nature Youth Connection Education) runs its activities from the Pickle Factory next to All Hallows Hall, opposite the church on All Hallows Road, teaching children green skills and giving them space to play in the yard and garden tucked between the two buildings.
Last week, the large stretch tent used to provide shelter so the yard can be used in all weathers was deliberately ripped, with at least eight long tears appearing in the canopy.
The vandalism happened over night, and the perpetrator must have scaled the fence “unless they had the gate code,” says Manu
Manu Maunganidze, NYCE founder, said replacing the tent will directly impact on their work.
“To run a youth session for us in terms of staff labour costs about £250, so the equivalent of the damage is 40 of those sessions.
“Whoever has damaged it has stopped us paying four experienced people to deliver 40 sessions for young people that would benefit. I could say the tent was worth £8000 but really it’s, what else could we have used that money for?”
The free supper club was able to sit outside because the weather was clear, but the rips – caused, Manu says, “clearly using a sharp object and not by the wind” – mean the yard is now not usable in the rain
NYCE work to reduce the inequality in access to green space, offering “nature connection…to broaden the horizons and life chances of so many who are at present cut off from it.”
They run outdoor cooking and activity sessions at the Pickle Factory, environmental awareness and social justice sessions with students from City Academy, and take young people on trips to Avon Wildlife Trust and National Trust sites, as well as further afield for wild experiences in places like Exmoor and the Brecon Beacons.
And their FairBnB scheme helps, Manu says, “families that have no chance in hell of ever taking a holiday anywhere” to take breaks in the countryside in houses donated by second homeowners.
The Old Pickle Factory has a music studio and kitchen inside for children to use, and a garden to play in outside. Suvi Sauna which now occupies the back of the space was also subject to an attack, the night before NYCE’s tent was vandalised
“The children get to do something different from what’s available to them both at school and at home, they get to do something that a lot of them can’t geographically, economically or culturally afford,” says Manu of the organisation’s work.
“We know their mental health is massively improved by coming off their phones and being outside, or learning about food, or being socially engaged. Their physical health definitely improves.
“And their awareness of the environment is a massively important topic for a lot of young people at the moment, but access to that awareness and skill set is not very equitable.
“If you’re rich, you’ve got loads of access to that. If you’re from a working class or minority or disabled background, you’re often at a distance from a lot of that awareness and access.
“We also just try to make our programmes really fun – there isn’t enough fun in the world!
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The vandalism has also affected NYCE’s capacity to hire out the space to fund their social impact work, and impacts other events such as the weekly Super Supper Club that offers free hot meals to community members.
NYCE has been unnerved by the nature of the vandalism and the fact the Suvi Sauna that shares the space was pelted with eggs the night before. As a result, Manu is now planning to ramp up security: “It’s a shame, we have been a CCTV free space, an open door-type trusting space, but that now needs to change.”
He says the organisation has been careful in considering the community with their events and has never received a complaint about noise or any other issue.
The Pickle Factory yard and garden is an oasis for young people in an urban area surrounded by roads with little green space
“It’s pretty shocking – it feels like a visceral thing,” he says of the nature of the vandalism. “Third spaces are becoming so much rarer, community spaces are becoming commercialised faster than pubs are closing.
“It’s important to highlight how important they are and actually that a lot of non profits, people with goodwill and volunteers make those spaces happen – so whether or not you like what they’re doing and how they’re doing it, the best way to challenge it is by sending an email or knocking on the door and having a chat.
“This is not the way to do it. It affects so many people. The kids we work with are living in tower blocks – they come here to have a safe outdoor space and a healthy meal. Don’t fuck with our spaces!”
The Pickle Factory is located next door to All Hallows Hall, which was itself a large community space until it was sold last year, and opposite All Hallows Church
Sam Ford is churchwarden at neighbouring All Hallows’ Church, which lets out the Pickle Factory to NYCE at a non-commercial rate.
“We at All Hallows’ Church are committed to the wellbeing and thriving of everyone in the parish,” he said. “Since NYCE became tenants at the Pickle Factory we’ve been delighted to see the space flourish.
“This act of vandalism is very sad indeed and we will work closely with NYCE to improve the security of the property and ensure that it continues to be a welcoming, safe and nurturing space for the community.”
NYCE will be fundraising to replace the canopy and improve security measures. Follow instagram.com/thepicklefactory_easton and nyce.org.uk for updates.
All images: Ursula Billington
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