The East of England Co-op’s Community Cares Fund has chosen to support Cambridge Cyrenians’ Community Allotment project with a grant of £5,000.

The Community Allotment site is a peaceful pocket of space away from the busy city centre. It covers six allotment plots, where participants grow vegetables, herbs, fruit, and wildflowers.

Homelessness can have a devastating impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. In 2022, Homeless Link’s Homeless Health Needs Audit found that 82% of their respondents had a mental health diagnosis.[1] This compares to a national population average of 12% (as reported in the GP Patient Survey 2022).[2]

The Allotment Community is open to all Cyrenians residents and also receives referrals from other homelessness services in Cambridge. Every year, the Community Allotment supports around 25 regular attendees, with others dropping in on an ad-hoc basis.

The project provides a therapeutic environment where participants can spend time outdoors, connect with nature and focus on a meaningful occupation which results in improved well-being. It also provides opportunities to socialise with peers in a safe and positive group, reducing feelings of isolation and improving social contact. Allotment participants have the space and time to gain valuable work experience and develop new practical skills, confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and motivation.

“When you’re homeless you can sometimes feel worthless. But when I’m here I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.” A recent project participant

Thanks to the East of England Co-op, the Community Allotment will be able to continue to reach people who have experienced homelessness, helping them feel more comfortable and confident in society, creating greater community cohesion and integration, and helping them to move away from homelessness for good.

Ruth Wood, Allotment Project Coordinator at Cambridge Cyrenians said; “We’re so grateful to have the support of East of England Co-op. This grant will help us to continue to facilitate our unique, therapeutic horticulture project. At the heart of the project is a really supportive community who support each other in all things, not just the gardening.”

[1] Homeless Link, (2022), The Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2022: Findings from the Homeless Health Needs Audit. Available at: https://homelesslink-1b54.kxcdn.com/media/documents/Homeless_Health_Needs_Audit_Report.pdf

[2] NHS, (2022), GP Patient Survey, National Report: 2022 survey. Available at: https://gp-patient.co.uk/downloads/2022/GPPS_2022_National_report_ PUBLIC.pdf