Last updated: March 2023
Grace House is a charity that provides care to children with disabilities. The staff has created a Sensory Garden and a fruit and vegetable patch to improve the neglected surrounding area. The project is seen as an opportunity for local people to engage in gardening activities as well as a source of health, social and learning benefits. Volunteers have been involved in the execution of the project (Ref 1).
Grace House
http://www.gracehouse.co.uk/transforming-the-grace-house-garden-corporate-volunteering-project/n29
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
1. To create a sensory garden and vegetable patch so that local people can engage in garden activities, which has health, social and learning benefits.
2. To support young people with complex disabilities, health needs and limiting conditions. (Ref 1)
Implementation activities
Create a sensory garden and vegetable patch and purchase the necessary garden tools and gear. A team of eight Berghaus staff members worked hard all day at Grace House to overhaul the Sensory Garden and fruit and vegetable patch after a long winter at the purpose-built facility had left them looking far from their best. The partnership with Berghaus went a step further, as the team donated a range of the company’s waterproof jackets and trousers to Grace House to be used by their regular Community Garden volunteers. (Ref 1).
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Business association or network
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
NGO: The Grace House North East charity is the main receiving organisation; Private sector: Berghaus staff members were the main executing force and donated a range of the company's waterproof jackets and trousers to be used by regular volunteers that come work in the garden. (Ref 1, 2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Crowdfunding
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
No
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
Ref 1: Garce House. (2016). Investing in a community gardening project at Grace House North East. Retrieved from Source link on 8th November, 2020.
Ref 2: Garce House. (2016). Transforming the Grace House garden - Corporate Volunteering project. Retrieved from Source link on 8th November, 2020.
Ref 3: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green infrastructure strategy framework. (attached)
Ref 2: Garce House. (2016). Transforming the Grace House garden - Corporate Volunteering project. Retrieved from Source link on 8th November, 2020.
Ref 3: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green infrastructure strategy framework. (attached)
Grace House
http://www.gracehouse.co.uk/investing-in-a-community-gardening-project-at-grace-house-north-east/n28