Over the past eighteen months Community Connector, Pam Cumberbatch, has through conversations and gift gathering with neighbours on the Valley Park estate developed an edible garden project outside the Peppermint Centre.
Residents negotiated with officers at the NHS and Croydon council to make use of the space that had been left undeveloped for some time. Conversations undertaken by Pam identified that many residents wanted to maintain the space, learn food growing skills and offer constructive activities for children. Neighbours offered a range of gifts including carpentry and gardening.
After securing the space and gifts, Pam successfully applied for money from Croydon Churches Housing Association to buy extra equipment. The group were also successful in approaching Eco Local which provided a tutor to support the spaces development. The initiative is also supported by the Peppermint GP surgery and the Centre Acorns 2 Oaks.
The project has been developed mainly through the sharing of gifts and skills of local people with the support of voluntary sector organisations, the projects have seen the creation of gardens that offer the opportunity for local residents to learn how to produce their own food, share healthy eating tips, overcome isolation and develop community cohesion.
Through the work of Community Connectors the initiative has now developed to an extent that it is are engaging with statutory bodies as part of the latter’s core objectives. With guidance from Ed Rosen, Director of Patient Experience, Engagement and Community Participation, with AT Medics and Acorns to Oaks, Community Connectors wish to develop the project further building on the successful models of the Green Dreams project in Lancashire and community garden initiative in Lambeth. These projects assist patients by signposting them to social networks thereby helping GPs to create more time to deal with patients clinical conditions and reduce budget expenditure.
The key themes of the current discussion is how the GP surgery could help patients who face isolation, lack of confidence and depression to create greater health and well-being by participating in gardening activities.
In addition the project offers the opportunity for community members to:
learn about the health and economic benefits of growing and cooking with fresh produce.
directly participate in the project by growing their own food in the Edible Garden and in their own gardens if available.
gain opportunities to learn about the environmental benefits of cultivating and consuming
GPs will refer patients to the schemes where they will be supported to engage with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
liaises with local schools to develop health and well-being deep learning workshops for pupils, teachers and parents based at the garden sites
The project will work with patients who want to live a healthier lifestyle, eat more healthily and do more physical activity, including those with long term health conditions. It will be able to provide information about local job search support, eco - therapy placements and benefits advice, working with partner organisations. This will also help many patients who are experiencing mental health problems, including stress, depression and anxiety, low self - esteem and confidence and bereavement.