BeCHaR – The Prebend Day Centre

Together We Grow

Shifting bark which Alan Colley (Council Allotment Officer) kindly allowed us to use to restore old paths and lay

some new ones

Issue 9 February 2014

Hope springs eternal as allotment project faces new challenges this summer

We ended 2013 by awarding certificates to Martin Senior (Best DIY) Martin Miles (Best Gardener) and John Paterson (most promising newcomer.)

This year in response to our survey, Together We Grow The Future, (summary of results on page 2) we have launched three DVD based training sessions to be completed at the daycentre when the weather is too bad to go to the allotment. These are open to anyone who earns a certificate by attending ten or more sessions and making a contribution.

Anyone completing the three sessions will be eligible to attend a one day course in growing fruit and vegetables at Shuttleworth College and then considered for a Royal Horticultural Society NVQ.

All of this is dependant on us increasing numbers in the spring and summer and securing funding for the projects second year which starts in June. So If you are interested in visiting the allotment talk to Tim any Monday Tuesday or Wednesday. Remember more people coming once a week or even once a month will make a real difference.

Survey results

• 16 people took part 90% service users 5% staff 5% volunteers.• 100% thought the project was an excellent or good idea.• 90% thought that offering training was a good idea.• We learned that people have valuable skills that we can use. For example we now have a named first aider.• We have now launched a four level training programme called Learning To Grow as a response.• We are considering “taster sessions” for people who said they would like to visit the allotment .

Our friend and neighbour Mr Durga gave us our first fruit bush (Gooseberry left) which we planted in the Kitchen Garden . our

first snow drop of 2014 (right)

Currently Tim’s role with Together We Grow is a partnership with his business Lifeline. From March 4th however, Tim will be

joining BECHAR in a new part time role as fund raising assistant. This means he will be working closely with Ryan our Chief Executive to secure the future of the daycentre including

projects like Together We Grow.

The new herb and flower garden in progress (below)