Community Garden Education and Wellbeing Hub
2
The Pitch
Problem statement
There is a range of threats to health and wellbeing that our garden can help to address. These include disease, contributory risk factors such as low levels of physical activity, and poor diet. Poor mental health is one of the most widespread health issues, and current trends - an increase in loneliness and poor social contact - further exacerbate this situation. Poverty and food insecurity also contribute to poor health. Environmental degradation (social and physical) also impacts health and wellbeing. Our garden provides a haven for everyone. It is completely open access and run by volunteers. We encourage people to sit and chill, weed, water, and pick ripe produce.
Solution
We wish to run green social prescribing sessions for local people who are experiencing physical and mental health issues, or have been referred by the local GP surgery or other support services. These sessions would be run by an experienced gardener who has developed social prescribing sessions in our community garden previously. The funding will cover a six month project of weekly sessions, supporting people to build skills, improve their general mental and physical health and refer onwards where needed, paying for the gardener and work space hire. We also work closely with our community pantry, community fridge and the food bank. We are creating a sustainable hub that can support all.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
The Community Association runs projects from the community centre, and has over 50 regular volunteers, and many volunteering opportunities. Along with the community garden, we run a pantry with over 350 members, a community fridge that saves food from being wasted, an over 50's lunch club plus a community cinema. The local food bank is based at the centre, as is Homestart Hampshire. We also have a close working relationship with Citizens Advice Winchester, our GP surgery and the local schools. We have 100's of people visiting the centre every week, for sports, crafts, business and statutory services such as therapy sessions. Our volunteer garden coordinator is a skilled gardener.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Gardener @ £18 p/h x 3 hours x 26 weeks | £1,400 |
| venue hire @ £15 x 3 hours x 26 weeks | £1,170 |
| planting | £300 |
| refreshments, and printing | £130 |
Beneficiaries
150 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
50 people attending planned workshops and open sessions (referred by GP and self referral). improved mental health by - reducing isolation, helping mental wellbeing, increased confidence, improved practical skills, improved physical health, sense of community. Temperature check surveys will be done at the start, middle and end of the first block of sessions. We will continue to monitor successes as this will be an ongoing project. We hope to develop the sessions into more therapeutic offers as our community gardener is currently studying gardening therapy.
Track record
A recent visitor to the garden said ' I love to come and sit in the garden and listen to the birds and the buzzing bees. It's such a lovely and serene place I immediately felt calmer. I even picked some strawberries, which were lovely. Thank you so much for the garden.' Volunteers are working hard to widen participation to younger people who are using the garden pergola as a sheltered seating area as there is nowhere else in the village for them to go. This has created some anti-social behaviour. We are keen to offer opportunities for them to lead projects for themselves. The garden is a welcoming place for everyone and we want all local people to feel they have a stake in it.