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Watch Us Grow Nursery, Cumbernauld |
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Tuesday, 16 September 2003 |
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The project has been open since March 1999 and since then students and volunteers have been reclaiming a nursery at Palacerigg Country Park in Cumbernauld. The site had been left unused for some time so needed careful planning and lots of hard work to establish an organic nursery plant capable of sustaining long term use.
Overview
PROJECT SUMMARY
The management committee secured a range of funding opportunities and established good working links with a range of statutory and voluntary sector agencies with interests in their horticultural activity and their focus on improving the quality of life for students with a disability.
KEY PARTNERS
Ann McCulloch was the cornerstone of the development but all members of the management committee, students and volunteers are local people committed to the introduction and ongoing success of the project and subsequent developments.
The Management Committee vision for inclusion and development of valued roles for people with a learning disability and / or mental health difficulties, passion for organic produce and care of the environment has been the guiding influence of the project.
Local professionals from statutory agencies and staff from Palacerigg Country Park have also supported the project.
Other key participants are the local people who have supported the project through the purchase of organic fruit, vegetables and flowers.
The key people from environmental organisations and educational institutions were invaluable in supporting and guiding the development of the project as was the local authority.
The project has secured interest and commitment from a wide range of organisations external to the community, including:
- North Lanarkshire Council
- North Lanarkshire Forward
- North Glasgow College
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health
- Millennium Forrest for Scotland
Though there were very many organisations involved perhaps the two key ones to focus on are the social work department and the countryside ranger at Palacerigg Country Park.
The local social work department has been a source of referral to the project, particularly facilitating access to people who would not normally have known about the opportunities on offer. The social work department would be in a position to share information and plan the involvement of the person with the project co-ordinator, taking account of risk factors and personal care needs. They would remain involved to review the care plans at regular intervals and offer ongoing support to the project in relation to each individual.
The countryside rangers were able and willing to offer advise, support and practical assistance in the organic nursery and surrounding park land, to the students and volunteers.
FUNDERS
The project has secured funding from a variety of sources:
North Lanarkshire Council Social Work Department, Section 10 grant
Landfill tax
Abbey National
The Lotteries Board (Scotland)
Lloyds TSB
Forward Scotland
Millennium Forest for Scotland
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Scottish Natural Heritage
Welcome to Well-being
The project also has a strong local reputation for high quality, desirable, organic fruit and vegetables as well as flowers in the spring and summer months. The sale of produce generates a small income, which is expected to be sustained and increased over time.
THEMATIC CRITERIA
Strathclyde; Poverty / Mental Health; Education; Economy
Plan
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Ann McCulloch, project co-ordinator, has extensive experience of working with people with a learning disability and people with mental health difficulties. She also has a passionate interest in organic produce, concern for the environment and a commitment to improving her local environment.
The Steering Committee knew from their experience that people with the label of a disability were often marginalised in society with little choice or control in their lives.
The idea of Watch us Grow offered new, exciting and valued roles for people with a disability. It would also offer a service to the local community through growing and selling a range of organic fruit, vegetables and flowers; improve the local community; and, offer the opportunity to learn about and participate in horticultural activity.
OUTPUTS
The students, volunteers, paid staff, management committee, local schools and agencies involved have developed a greater sense of the value of the outdoors and the health benefits of exercise and fresh air.
The environmentally friendly activities of the project in recycling use of non-chemical pesticides and fertilisers, using low energy solutions wherever possible have carried on to people's home and community lives.
The interest from the local community in particular local primary schools has been surprising and very satisfying. The opportunity to promote environmental issues with young people should be a learning experience which goes with them into adult life.
The opportunity to share environmental issues whilst also breaking down barriers of prejudice in relation to disability and mental ill health also cannot be understated.
FUTURE STEPS
The project is ongoing and expanding to new related areas of activity. The project will link with the local community and other client groups to encourage participation and raise awareness of the environment and environmental issues. The management committee are for example keen to develop opportunities for older people to become involved in planting and enjoying organic produce and flowers.
The project is now focusing on building on the partnerships with community organisations, work with schools, community councils and older peoples groups on community gardens.
Progress
Ann (the project co-ordinator) set about establishing a steering group involving local people with a disability and interested professionals. They were able to secure a variety of funding to establish the project and the role of the steering group changed to become a management committee.
The project commenced in March 1999 and has simply continued to grow from strength to strength.
The project has been open since March 1999 and since then students and volunteers have been reclaiming a nursery at Palacerigg Country Park in Cumbernauld. The site had been left unused for some time so needed careful planning and lots of hard work to establish an organic nursery plant capable of sustaining long term use.
The management committee secured a range of funding opportunities and established good working links with a range of statutory and voluntary sector agencies with interests in their horticultural activity and their focus on improving the quality of life for students with mental health and learning disabilities.
By December 1999 Watch us Grow had applied for a Millennium Award to develop a picnic area to further improve the garden area.
The interest in the outdoors and healthier lifestyle has led to a further development. Watch us Cycle was established in 2002 with a grant from 'Welcome to Well-being' facilitating the purchase of two adult tricycles, ideal for use in the safe path areas of the country park. The overwhelming success of this venture has secured the purchase of an additional two bikes and safety equipment such as helmets, gloves and safety jackets.
Review
ACHIEVEMENTS
The project has many and varied achievements to be proud of:
- Reclaiming unused land
- Establishing an organic plant nursery
- Growing and sustaining a wide range of organic fruit and vegetables
- Growing and selling flowers to sell to park visitors
- Selling produce at local fetes and galas
- Creating a picnic area with nest boxes and decorative planters
- Building on the unique interests and strengths of each individual student and volunteer
- Providing new opportunities for people with a disability
- Reducing the reliance on support services for all participants
- Promoting access to college courses
- Promoting empowering structures to ensure decision making is truly democratic and not tokenistic
- Developing employment skills and understanding of the world of work
- Promoting an interest and understanding of plant life and of environmental issues with primary school children whilst also breaking down barriers of prejudice in relation to stereo types of disability
- Promoting physical and mental well-being through developing socially valued roles
- Creating strong links with statutory and voluntary organisations, commanding respect through their achievement and professionalism
- 2 people with learning disability have moved onto full time employment in a related field
- 2 people with a learning disability have moved onto full time education in a related field
- Developed skills and interests in related fields for a number of students including work experience in Palacerigg cafe and estate work
The project has given:
- Local people with a disability the opportunity to develop socially valued roles, increasing choice and control, increasing confidence and promoting work skills;
- Local unemployed people the opportunity to work in paid roles through the creation of 3 paid posts;
- Local volunteers the opportunity to gain a wide range of experience and contribute to the improvement of their local environment;
- Local community an enhanced environment to enjoy within the country park;
- Local schools the opportunity to learn about plant life, the value of organic produce and increase awareness of environmental issues.
MEASURING ACHIEVEMENT
One of the key measures of success is the personal development and achievement of the people with learning disability and mental health difficulties. 6 people have moved to full time employment or education or training opportunity.
Statutory review of individual need carried out by officers of the social work department offer independent evidence to the success for the individual.
The successful sale and continued interest in the produce offered is also a key measure of achievement.
PROCESS (local involvement)
A huge number of people have been involved from the 14 people on the management committee to the hundreds who have purchased the produce.
There are many ways in which the project has encouraged local involvement:
Clear vision
Promotion of social inclusion
Use of a well-known and well respected county park
Different and exciting opportunities to create a better environment and healthy approach to life and lifestyle
Local publicity promoting the environment and healthy living, including bright cheerful leaflets, open days, participation in local fetes and galas, work within schools and wider community.
No decisions are made without the full and active involvement of local people and the Management Committee. People with learning disability, and those with a mental health difficulty, along with local professionals, have been actively involved at every stage of development.
The success and increasing awareness of the project has resulted in a steady growth in participation and interest in the project. A 50% increase in participation has been achieved and sustained.
The projects expertise in the horticultural activities undertaken and in the support offered to people with learning and / or mental health difficulties has great local value and is increasingly in demand.
Links with local colleges and training opportunities creates a sense of individual growth and mutual benefits to the organisations involved.
The projects approach to publicity ensures an ongoing knowledge of activities as well as makes sure that people are aware of contact details.
LESSONS
Advice to other organisations embarking on a similar project would be:
Make sure you have people on board who know the systems you need to utilise for referral, funding, development, support.
Maintain a good customer friendly service as a high priority.
Have fun!!
Be assertive - say what you want rather than seek discussion.
Don't give up!
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