Dug Out Update September 2025

Just under a year ago, we reported that we were putting the Dug Out on Barton Hill Road up for sale. We now want to update you that the Dug Out has been sold and we are extremely happy to be able to share the news that the building remains in charity ownership and will continue to be of benefit to the community.

The Dug out had been owned by Wellspring Settlement for a number of years. The building was formerly a youth club and in more recent years has been occupied by our tenants, Barton Hill Amateur Boxing Club.

Due to the significant costs involved in maintaining the building we took the extremely difficult decision to sell the Dug Out as part of a package of measures to help secure the long-term future of our other Wellspring Settlement buildings and services.

Barton Hill Amateur Boxing Club has secured a new location and will continue to provide boxing opportunities for local young people. We will continue to work with them as a key local partner sharing similar goals and connections with the community. We wish them the best of luck in their new home.

The Dug Out has been purchased by a local charity, Cherry Orchards (Camphill) Limited, whose mission is:

“For the public benefit, to reduce sickness, promote good health, provide care to and advance the education and training of people with disabilities (whether mental or physical), while supporting those otherwise in need through the principles of community-based support systems.”

We understand that Cherry Orchards (Camphill) Limited will be working closely with Wild Dandelion CIC (an existing tenant of Wellspring Settlement) to use the building and land for the benefit of the local community. Wild Dandelion are:

“Dedicated to serving our community through a holistic approach to wellbeing, therapy and education using sustainable practices. And are committed to involving the community in the development of the building.””

We feel confident that Cherry Orchards (Camphill) Limited and Wild Dandelion will be excellent custodians for the Dug Out and will ensure that it will continue to bring benefit to the community of Barton Hill for many years to come.

The sale has contributed to securing the future of Wellspring Settlement and our remaining buildings at Ducie Road and Beam Street. Last week we launched our new Community Hub at our Settlement Site on Ducie Road. The service will be run in line with our organisational values and principles that recognise and celebrate our communities’ many interests, skills and ideas. The space will provide an open access, drop-in space, where people can connect, or be signposted to partner initiatives. It will  provide people with the opportunity to develop their own community activities such as art groups, book and conversation clubs, or events, such as a community picnics, lunches or fun days. The space went live on Monday 8th September in our main building and will be running from 9.30am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday, with plans to expand to Friday mornings and Tuesday evenings soon. We look forward to seeing you there.