The John O'Gaunts Community Allotment Environment project has been shortlisted for an award from the National Federation of ALMOs as Best Community Initiative.
The project was set up by the John O'Gaunts Residents Group and John O'Gaunts In Bloom Group. These groups have worked together to make improving their local environment a top priority and, in 2007, persuaded Aire Valley Homes to support a series of master-planning sessions to develop ideas for the estate. From this they have developed an innovative project that aims to physically improve the area, involve young people in understanding and maintaining the environment and then use this involvement to forge inter-generational links and support healthy eating for the elderly. An ambitious agenda that makes this community initiative really stand out.
Many houses on the John O'Gaunt's estate originally had long, often 90 ft, gardens. Attempts over the years to reduce garden size have lead to areas of abandoned land, attracting fly tipping and reducing residents' confidence in the estate. The two community groups proposed using this land to create community allotments. These will be managed by children and young people supported by the groups and will grow produce that will be distributed free to elderly residents on the estate.
The project was kick-started with an Environmental Week in February that saw residents young and old starting work on the allotments, including building a 20ft poly-tunnel and creating scarecrows from scrap material collected from a mass clean-up. Garden maintenance for the elderly, free fruit and vegetables and a Gardener's Question Time were also services used to raise awareness of the project in the community, showing older residents the positive contributions that young people can make. Up to 35 youngsters made the project the focus of their half-term and will be responsible for distributing the produce they grow on the allotment.
The groups successfully presented a case to Aire Valley Homes for funding for the project work and then worked with Aire Valley Homes and its partner Groundwork Trust in implementing it. Staff from all the groups were on hand to help with the initial Environmental Work and Aire Valley Homes' own Aire Bear also made an appearance.
What did the activity deliver?
The project has delivered:
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Over 30 children and teenagers now actively engaged with improving and managing the environment on the John O'Gaunt's estate;
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Physical improvements to abandoned land, bringing it into shared community use;
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Creation of allotment space to that will provide positive activities for children and fresh produce for distribution in the community;
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Improved relationships between residents in the community, particularly between elderly and young people;
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Increased confidence for the Residents' Group that community action can bring achievements;
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A positive relationship between Aire Valley Homes and local tenants.
Local resident Stuart Beaumont, said, "We are looking to change attitudes so when we make these improvements it will give the residents a stake in their future. I come from a family where everything we ate we had grown, a valuable process young people often do not learn anymore."
About the Awards
Following the outstanding success of the 2007 inaugural National Federation of ALMOs (NFA) Awards the second annual awards will be taking place in May 2008 sponsored by Lovell Partnerships. The awards aim to continue the recognition and celebration of the hard work and achievements of our ALMOs, their teams and their residents.
The seven categories making up the 2008 NFA Awards are:
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Most Outstanding Resident
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Best Community Initiative
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Best Use of Communication
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Most Effective Partnership Project
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Board Member of the Year
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ALMO Team Member of the Year
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Most Innovative Project
The awards will be announced at the NFA annual conference dinner on 13th May.
An independent panel will judge the entries and the winners will receive a special NFA Award and the winner of the 'Most Outstanding Resident' award will also receive a cheque for £500.