Great news for the Social Farms & Gardens project ‘Growing Resilience’ this month, as additional funding from the lottery is confirmed. This important funding will enable the charity to expand the project, supporting even more community gardens in Northern Ireland to garden and grow together. In June 2019 after a hugely successful first two years, The National Lottery, Community Fund programme confirmed it would fund Social Farms & Gardens to expand the work into three specific new areas (Newry Mourne and Down, Derry City and North Belfast). All Local Council areas will be covered as the project develops. The project will also organise networking forums across Northern Ireland, which could include topics such as growing skills, volunteer recruitment and community development and engagement.
Under the new name, ‘Growing Resilience: Digging Deeper’, the project will run for five years, funded by The National Lottery, Community Fund programme. The project increases social capital and resilience in the community growing sector in Northern Ireland.
The programme works to support volunteers in the community growing sector to connect, share skills, build confidence and support one another; strengthening their ability to work sustainably and withstand changes in an ever-changing financial landscape.
The skills shared so far have been hugely diverse and inspiring; from soil health, fermenting foods and community composting, to pallet furniture making and a great engagement activity called disco soup!
FInd out more about the project here
If you are part of a community group and would like to be involved, or simply interested in finding out more. Please contact [email protected].
