The Green Backyard Charity Secures Building Materials Boost

We’re pleased to announce The Green Backyard Charity as a runner-up in our 2026 Community Heroes initiative, recognising the charity’s commitment to creating a sustainable, inclusive community space that promotes wellbeing and connection.

The charity was selected by a panel including celebrity judge and TV tradesperson, Rob Bent. The campaign was relaunched this year, after research found that half of Brits (48%) say community spaces have disappeared in their neighbourhoods.

The Green Backyard in Peterborough is a vibrant community garden open to everyone, providing a space where people can come together to support their health, wellbeing and connection to the environment. The site is home to a range of community projects, activities and workshops, from gardening and bike repair to a refill shop, men’s shed and children’s groups.

Following a successful community campaign to protect the site from new building developments, The Green Backyard is now looking to improve and strengthen the space for the future. Its volunteers and users help run the site and its projects, creating a welcoming community resource that can be enjoyed by local people and groups.

Thanks to the Community Heroes win, The Green Backyard will receive £1,000 credit to spend in its local branch, Selco Peterborough. The funding will help with repairs to the leaking roof of the community hub and help renew the site’s ageing polytunnel. These improvements will support in making the garden more welcoming and usable with the goal of attracting more users and community hirers to build a stronger financial foundation for the future.

Lou Roe, Fundraising Trustee at The Green Backyard said: "The Green Backyard is run by volunteers, and is loved and used by many groups and people in the city. The store credit from Selco Community Heroes will help restore some of our aging structures whilst supporting the work our groups and volunteers do onsite every week, so thank you!"

Now in its sixth year -and with a bigger prize fund than ever before at £62,000 – the Community Heroes initiative is designed to benefit small community projects that are building brighter futures for their local areas.

David Lennon, Commercial Director at Selco, said: “The Green Backyard plays a valuable role in bringing people in Peterborough together and supporting their wellbeing. We're delighted to support the charity through Community Heroes and help fund improvements that will strengthen and protect this much-loved space for those who use it. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these upgrades have for years to come."

Local charities and community projects are encouraged to find out more about Community Heroes and apply online.