Story: Sarah Emberson
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) have recently got funding from The Health Lottery to improve health inequalities.
A partnership with the HOPE Community Allotment Project on the High Wincobank site has led to an agreement to work on one of their plots for 18 months. They aim to establish a volunteer group and improve the plot and of course get local people growing food.
TCV are making it more accessible for people with disabilities and generally improving it. TCV have lots of plants growing, the shed is moving, a patio will be built, a new lock-up is arriving, new compost bays have been built and they are now harvesting food.
The TCV long-term volunteer group have done a lot of work and continue to do so. They are slowly building a new volunteer group of local people. TCV aim to leave a self-sustaining group to continue growing food on the plot.
TCV have also started working in partnership with Community Action Halfway Home to form the Grow Your Mind Allotment Group, where regular well-being sessions will be combined with gardening on Wednesdays to cover mental health awareness, mindfulness, creative writing and more. These sessions are open to everybody and are free.
TCV welcome volunteers who would like to help maintain the allotment, learn to grow food, meet new people, improve their health or just get involved. Please contact Sarah for further details on 0114 290 1255 or 07740 899583, or s.emberson@tcv.org.uk