Community Gardening Project

VASA’s community gardening project recruits and trains volunteers to smarten up housing estates by clearing overgrown, neglected gardens belonging to tenants unable to look after them.

The project has been acclaimed as an innovative initiative to help reduce the risk of crime and reduce tensions between neighbours.

It also provides healthy outdoor work for local people - and a sheltered work experience to people recovering from mental health problems or with learning difficulties. The volunteers are trained on an allotment, the produce from which is used by other projects locally.

Up to June 2009, 69 households benefited from the service. While some gardens only needed a single visit to bring them under control, others had been neglected for years and took up to 10 days to clear. Most properties require regular ongoing maintenance visits.

Volunteers enjoy their regular work pattern, and there has been a marked change in the self-esteem of those with mental health issues especially as they’ve acquired new skills and new confidence in their abilities.

The project has received funding from the Stratford District Partnership, Orbit Heart of England and Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust (for gardens within the town boundary).
 

Last updated: Mon 17th Aug 2009