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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/19/how-to-set-up-your-own-community-allotment
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| How to set up your own community allotment | How to set up your own community allotment |
| (6 days later) | |
| 14. Hartlepool Team 34: A Lot O’ Love | 14. Hartlepool Team 34: A Lot O’ Love |
| Age: Just over a year | Age: Just over a year |
| Location: Hartlepool, Teesside | Location: Hartlepool, Teesside |
| Why it started | Why it started |
| As part of the Prince’s Trust Team programme – a personal development course for unemployed young people – seven 16- to 19-year-olds joined together to regenerate an abandoned, junk-filled allotment for the benefit of the community in Hartlepool. The group (several of whom had themselves been in care) decided to create a vibrant space where other children in care could learn about growing food and interact with young people in a similar situation. | As part of the Prince’s Trust Team programme – a personal development course for unemployed young people – seven 16- to 19-year-olds joined together to regenerate an abandoned, junk-filled allotment for the benefit of the community in Hartlepool. The group (several of whom had themselves been in care) decided to create a vibrant space where other children in care could learn about growing food and interact with young people in a similar situation. |
| “I thought it was a great idea. When I was in foster care, I didn’t have many friends, and having a place like this to meet other people like me would have been fantastic,” said Sadie Auton, a member of Team 34 who created the Garden Learning Space. | “I thought it was a great idea. When I was in foster care, I didn’t have many friends, and having a place like this to meet other people like me would have been fantastic,” said Sadie Auton, a member of Team 34 who created the Garden Learning Space. |
| After filling 14 large skips with debris, a polytunnel, greenhouse and shed were erected for growing vegetables and breeding chickens, as well as a portaloo and Portakabin so that visitors could stay for several hours and in all weather. The local fostering agency now uses the Garden Learning Space regularly. | After filling 14 large skips with debris, a polytunnel, greenhouse and shed were erected for growing vegetables and breeding chickens, as well as a portaloo and Portakabin so that visitors could stay for several hours and in all weather. The local fostering agency now uses the Garden Learning Space regularly. |
| How many people involved? | How many people involved? |
| “Members of Team 34 often pop in to help out whenever they have some spare time,” said Kelly Henderson, who runs the Prince’s Trust Team programme from Stockton Riverside College. “We have several adult volunteers who come along to support with the gardening and looking after of the livestock. Several foster families have also come to the plot and other plot holders have often helped out with maintenance work and have donated seeds and plants. We also have a volunteer currently offering her support as part of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, so there is a fluctuating number of volunteers who help out throughout the year.” | “Members of Team 34 often pop in to help out whenever they have some spare time,” said Kelly Henderson, who runs the Prince’s Trust Team programme from Stockton Riverside College. “We have several adult volunteers who come along to support with the gardening and looking after of the livestock. Several foster families have also come to the plot and other plot holders have often helped out with maintenance work and have donated seeds and plants. We also have a volunteer currently offering her support as part of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, so there is a fluctuating number of volunteers who help out throughout the year.” |
| Does the group get funding? | Does the group get funding? |
| During the creation of the space, the team of Prince’s Trust volunteers contacted many different businesses, gardening centres and construction companies to support the project – the group received £4,000 of funding in total. | During the creation of the space, the team of Prince’s Trust volunteers contacted many different businesses, gardening centres and construction companies to support the project – the group received £4,000 of funding in total. |
| What would they like to do next? | What would they like to do next? |
| Themed events are already an integral part of the Garden Learning Space and are organised regularly for the children. Planning for the next big event is already in full swing – a new pumpkin patch has been cultivated in preparation for a Halloween party in October. | Themed events are already an integral part of the Garden Learning Space and are organised regularly for the children. Planning for the next big event is already in full swing – a new pumpkin patch has been cultivated in preparation for a Halloween party in October. |
| What can you do to help? | What can you do to help? |
| The garden is always on the lookout for donations and volunteers, “particularly donations of wood chipping,” says Matt Wigmore, curriculum support officer at Stockton Riverside College. “After laying paths with 100 tonnes of donated dolomite, we desperately need to cover it with wood chipping for weed control. This would make it far easier to maintain the garden and keep it looking good, helping us to concentrate on growing fruit and vegetables instead of combating weeds.” | The garden is always on the lookout for donations and volunteers, “particularly donations of wood chipping,” says Matt Wigmore, curriculum support officer at Stockton Riverside College. “After laying paths with 100 tonnes of donated dolomite, we desperately need to cover it with wood chipping for weed control. This would make it far easier to maintain the garden and keep it looking good, helping us to concentrate on growing fruit and vegetables instead of combating weeds.” |
| Can I set up something like this in my area? | Can I set up something like this in my area? |
| “For a project like this you need all the help you can get, so that means speaking to voluntary agencies, the council and even the local scouts,” says Wigmore. “The key to success is having a team with the determination and drive to succeed.” | “For a project like this you need all the help you can get, so that means speaking to voluntary agencies, the council and even the local scouts,” says Wigmore. “The key to success is having a team with the determination and drive to succeed.” |
| To find out more about the Prince’s Trust Team programme, click here. Anyone aged 16 to 25 is eligible, especially if they are part of the Prince’s Trust’s other target groups: people leaving care, young offenders, educational underachievers and the long term unemployed. | To find out more about the Prince’s Trust Team programme, click here. Anyone aged 16 to 25 is eligible, especially if they are part of the Prince’s Trust’s other target groups: people leaving care, young offenders, educational underachievers and the long term unemployed. |
| Who Cares is a trust which aims to provide a voice for people in care. They offer personalised workshops tailored to the needs of your organisation, ranging from a one-off workshop to a year-long course depending on your requirements. Check out their free forum where you can ask care-experienced experts for ideas, tips and feedback about how to work with young people in care. For more information, call 020 7251 3117 or email mailbox@thewhocarestrust.org.uk. | Who Cares is a trust which aims to provide a voice for people in care. They offer personalised workshops tailored to the needs of your organisation, ranging from a one-off workshop to a year-long course depending on your requirements. Check out their free forum where you can ask care-experienced experts for ideas, tips and feedback about how to work with young people in care. For more information, call 020 7251 3117 or email mailbox@thewhocarestrust.org.uk. |
| The Fostering Network hosts an online community where you can connect with other foster carers, read news and blogs about fostering. Their advice lines provide immediate advice and information to prospective and approved foster carers on a range of issues. | The Fostering Network hosts an online community where you can connect with other foster carers, read news and blogs about fostering. Their advice lines provide immediate advice and information to prospective and approved foster carers on a range of issues. |
| The Federation of City Farms and Gardens also offers advice on all aspects of community-managed gardening. They can put you in touch with a community garden (delete as appropriate) within travelling distance from you and can give advice over the phone or on site. You can also download one of their starter packs (or order a hard copy for £6) here. For more information about allotments, you can contact the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, who have tonnes of useful advice on finding allotments, and what to do with them once you’ve got one. In Lisburn, Northern Ireland, a local group has set up a social allotment for bereaved people. | The Federation of City Farms and Gardens also offers advice on all aspects of community-managed gardening. They can put you in touch with a community garden (delete as appropriate) within travelling distance from you and can give advice over the phone or on site. You can also download one of their starter packs (or order a hard copy for £6) here. For more information about allotments, you can contact the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, who have tonnes of useful advice on finding allotments, and what to do with them once you’ve got one. In Lisburn, Northern Ireland, a local group has set up a social allotment for bereaved people. |
| So far in this series ... | So far in this series ... |
| 1. The community supported farm | 1. The community supported farm |
| 2. The bike repair co-operative | 2. The bike repair co-operative |
| 3. The community garden centre | 3. The community garden centre |
| 4. The community forest | 4. The community forest |
| 5. The meat-rearing collective | 5. The meat-rearing collective |
| 6. The owl conservation group | 6. The owl conservation group |
| 7. The neighbours’ community group | 7. The neighbours’ community group |
| 8. The beer-growing group | 8. The beer-growing group |
| 9. The Solar Schools project | 9. The Solar Schools project |
| 10. The community clothes swap | 10. The community clothes swap |
| 11. The beekeeping group | 11. The beekeeping group |
| 12. The repair cafe | 12. The repair cafe |
| 13. The therapeutic garden project | 13. The therapeutic garden project |
| This article is part of the Live Better Community Project month. In September, we are showcasing 17 community projects from around the UK. We are asking you to vote for your favourite project. The project with the most votes will be awarded £1,000 of funding, and two runners-up will each receive funding of £500. One voter chosen at random will receive £150 worth of gift vouchers for Nigel’s Eco Store. Terms and conditions here. | |
| With thanks to: 10:10; FOE; Project Dirt; Neighbourly; UK Community Foundations; Groundwork; Business in the Community; Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; the Prince’s Trust; Garden Organic; the Royal Horticultural Society; the RSPB; Keep Wales Tidy; The Wildlife Trusts; and Mind. | With thanks to: 10:10; FOE; Project Dirt; Neighbourly; UK Community Foundations; Groundwork; Business in the Community; Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; the Prince’s Trust; Garden Organic; the Royal Horticultural Society; the RSPB; Keep Wales Tidy; The Wildlife Trusts; and Mind. |
| Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month’s Live Better challenge here. | Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month’s Live Better challenge here. |
| The Live Better Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here. | The Live Better Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here. |