We would like to use this funding to purchase a suitable sized Polly tunnel, to erect within our garden, for our service users and the community to reap the benefits. There is limited ground in the Garnock Valley for this and we feel that this is something that we could offer.
Costings for this would include – The Polly tunnel and groundwork.
Description
Within the Garnock Valley there is a substantial amount of families and individuals who live in poverty. A few years ago, as a charity-based organization, we felt that this is something that we should address and started to look at what we could do to help in our community. The statistics at that time found that 1 in 3 children in the Garnock Valley go to bed without a meal at dinner time. We introduced a community meal where families can get a three course meal for £2.50 and children can eat free, we also accept referrals through the local authority and other organisations which allows families, and or individuals who are strugling with the cost of living, to eat for free. This has become very popular over the last few years with orders ranging from 55 – 125 individuals. This usually varies depending on what is on the menu that night. As well as a collection service we offer a delivery to those who are unable to get to the building, which gives an apportunity for our trained staff to check in with those who live in isolation. Currently our vegetables for our meals are purchased through a local supplier. We have discussed for some time that it would be more cost effective if we could grow our own vegetables and use these as part of the meal we provide.
Within the Community Hub we support adults with learning disabilities and as part of their daily programme, we could implement a grow your own food activity. This is something that the service users would really enjoy and are currently doing this on a much smaller scale within our garden. The ingredients could be used both for the community meals and when the service user's are making food within the training kitchen, which is where they prepare a meal from scratch to take home to eat. The positive aspect being the reward for the time spent growing the vegetables/fruit, so that they can enjoy this as well as the most vulnerable people in our community.
We are looking to do more to help the vulnerable in Garnock Valley, by proposing to implement cooking classes for the impoverished. This venture is still in its infancy; however we are keen to develop this. The food grown within the Polly tunnel could also be used for this project once we have the service up and running.
Polly tunnel - £500
Groundwork -£500
Location: We are a third sector oraganistion "The Salvation Army". We are based at the George Steven Community Hub and support adults with learning and physical disabilities. In addition to the Community Hub we also have a registered housing support service that supports adults with learning and physical disabilities in their own homes. We are currently looking to expand our services and have been working in partnership with the Radio City Association.
Hi Jamie, unless you’ve committed to those prices give an email on scotbeds@gmail.com I have a much better solution for you that gives you much more for the same money.
Polly, get the veg growing, so we can all have some homegrown tea! Good luck
Hi Jamie, unless you’ve committed to those prices give an email on scotbeds@gmail.com I have a much better solution for you that gives you much more for the same money.