Alan Hull, Mentor for North West England
Being appointed as an ARI mentor for the North West came at a time in my allotment life when my own society, Pilkingtons Allotments, St Helen's, was about to take on the challenges of self management. Like my fellow mentors, I deal with many and varied requests for help and assistance. I have given funding advice, provided sample documents for new associations and given talks about setting up school plots.
Mentors also work at a regional strategic level too: one of the most pleasing challenges has been my involvement in the North West Regional Allotment Council Information Network (RACINE). This new network, initiated by the North West Counties Association of Allotment and Leisure Gardens, is all about getting council allotment officers together regularly to share good practice and innovative ideas in allotment regeneration in the North West region.
My mentor work with RACINE has given me a view from both sides of the fence. Whether we agree or disagree with our local council's policies, we all need to work alongside each other and overcome any "them and us" attitudes. Networks like RACINE will help ensure that good things happening in one area can be shared with councils and plotholders other areas.
Another pleasing factor in my mentor work has been seeing the help received from outside partners into allotment regeneration: the more partnerships involved, the stronger the site becomes. Some sites in the North West have already developed wonderful partnerships with schools and disability groups. Not only do partnerships strengthen the association but they also help throughout the community.
Receiving a request from enthusiastic groups for help or advice and following the journey to its conclusion has given me a real buzz. Being part of the ARI Mentor Network is certainly giving me many hours of interesting allotment work.
First published: ARI Newsletter Spring 2006