A funding boost from the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust is helping participants in a highly valued homelessness project grow vegetables.
The funding has paid for smart new raised vegetable beds at Derventio Housing Trust’s Growing Lives day centre in Ilkeston.
Project participants have used the funds to build the new wooden structures which will soon be full of vegetables such as brussels sprouts, runner beans, carrots, lettuces and broad beans.
They hope to expand their existing vegetable patch to grow enough produce to cook tasty nutritious meals at the centre.
Derventio Housing Trust provides accommodation in five UK counties to around 1200 people a year who would otherwise be homeless. Its Growing Lives centre at Cotmanhay in Ilkeston is attended by residents along with others referred through drug and alcohol recovery services.
Growing Lives offers a range of activities including gardening, bicycle maintenance, a workshop, crafts, cooking and walks.
Many participants have been through very tough times in their lives, losing families and other valued relationships along with their homes, and say they find being in the garden and growing things extremely beneficial for their mental health.
Over the years participants have worked hard in the garden and today it is a beautiful space with a greenhouse, vegetable patches, pond, flowers and calm areas to sit in peace.
Chris Lancashire, 61, comes to Growing Lives every day on the bus and loves working in the garden.
He said: “I want to eat what I grow. No chemicals, no nothing. My dad was a gardener. Back in the day, you couldn’t afford fresh vegetables. It’s nice when you can come down into the garden and see that they are ready. You know where it’s come from and you’re not relying on a supermarket.”
Chris said he found the Growing Lives project “brilliant”.
“It means my mind doesn’t go adrift,” he said. “They just let you get on with things. There’s always somebody to talk to.”
Wayne Straw, of Heanor, who is a resident with Derventio Housing Trust, said: “I do enjoy coming down here. Raised beds make it a lot easier. You just come here and get stuck in.”
Since it started in 1992, Toyota Manufacturing UK has contributed to a variety of local community causes – with more than £8.5million donated to charities and organisations in and around its Burnaston and Deeside plants.
This year Derventio benefited in a share of £405,000 donated to local organisations, making a huge difference to the lives of local people.
Richard Finchett, trustee and Toyota Manufacturing UK Deputy Managing Director – said: “We are extremely proud to support some amazing causes, including Derventio Housing Trust’s Growing Lives project, a fantastic activity making a difference in our local communities.”
Sarah Hernandez, managing director of Derventio Housing Trust, said: “We are very proud of our Growing Lives project and the huge benefits it brings to residents and others referred to our service. It’s well known that getting stuck into practical tasks like gardening can be very beneficial for mental health and being out in nature has so many proven benefits. Growing our own fruit and vegetables is clearly a great thing to do for wellbeing and nutritional benefit too.
“We are delighted to have been given funding through Toyota to pay for these raised beds and we know how much they are already being used and valued.”
Now Derventio Housing Trust is inviting members of the public to Growing Lives which is hosting a special open day on July 15.
Growing Lives will be open from 11am to 3pm and visitors will be able to enjoy a range of craft activities, get the chance to chat to residents and staff, see demonstrations in the workshop and bike shop, meet the project’s resident guinea pigs and enjoy food and drinks prepared by staff and participants.
Growing Lives is situated at 1 Grenville Drive, Ilkeston DE7 8HT. Anyone with any questions can email Derventio Housing Trust on [email protected]
This story was written and shared on behalf of Derventio Housing Trust by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
