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Allotment sessions in West Bridgford teaching new skills to homeless people

Weekly allotment sessions designed to improve mental health and social skills are being held for vulnerable people across Nottinghamshire.

The Friary homelessnesss support charity is running weekly workshops focusing on providing a welcoming outdoor space for people to connect, learn new skills, and enjoy fun activities.

Cooking, craft and gardening skills are taught to attendees, many of which are homeless and have special needs such as autism.

The project, run at the charity’s allotment on Loughborough Road in West Bridgford, gives members a chance to meet new people and learn valuable skills.

Produce from the allotments is used to prepare meals on-site or distributed to those in need at the charity’s drop-in centre for homeless and unemployed people on Musters Road.

Greg Jones, who has been attending the sessions for around a year, says his mental health has improved as a result.

“It helps you to move on with life – for me personally it does,” Greg, who has autism, said.

“Being around people that are less able than you, it’s really good and I’d encourage anybody to try – it’s something you need to do”.

The Friary’s Project Co-ordinator, Jen Blake, says the social aspect is the most important part of the sessions.

“People come down and they make new friends,” she added.

“People could be isolated but the minute they come down here, they’ll make new friends. There are people who come who are rough sleepers and they pitch in with the gardening. This gives them the space where they can do what they want.

“They don’t have a kitchen so they can’t cook, they don’t have a garden but they can do that here.”

Between 15 to 20 people regularly attend the free weekly sessions, Jen adds. The group has just received new funding from Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Community Wellbeing Fund, which Jen says will go towards creating an on-site toilet for attendees of the sessions.