Allotment Project

It’s been a big month down on our allotment project as we celebrated the allotment’s 15th birthday as well as National Allotment Week.  This project is open to anyone in the city who is homeless, formerly homeless or vulnerable.  It offers meaningful occupation, real work experience and helps people to develop new skills.  Here’s a photo of Mark, making good use of his woodwork skills by building shelves to reorganise the Tea Shed.

The allotment is also an essential therapeutic and social place to relax, with many attendees finding a safe place to get away from their worries.  As one member recently said, “Just to be outside, lose track of time, see your produce at the end of it, the happy faces down here.  You can’t beat it.”

We were delighted to welcome our MP, Daniel Zeichner to the project.  He has a genuine passion for the work we do with homeless people in Cambridge and said, “From little acorns grow great oaks and this local charity is a real success.”  And he brought cake with him!

The allotment project attracted a lot of press attention with coverage in Cambridge News and Cambridge Independent.

Ruth, the Project Co-ordinator, talked about the allotment on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.  She has noticed the effects of climate change earlier than anticipated, with extreme weather conditions such as long, wet winters and dry summers affecting the growth in the allotment.  The team has had to adapt as things are growing differently and a lot later than usual. Liaten to the interview which started at 7.50 am here: http://bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07kv76n

Look out for us on Christ’s Pieces over the next few Thursdays.  We’ll be opposite the Bowling Green with beautiful fresh produce from the allotment, yours in exchange for a donation to the project.

Staff

We’ve said goodbye and hello this month.  Sarah Newton, Project Worker, has left us after covering a maternity leave, working in a female only house and a move on house.  We’re pleased to welcome three new long term volunteers from Germany, Julie, Matthias and Josh.  For the next 3 – 6 months, they’ll live in our short stay project and older persons’ long term project.  They’ll be supporting the residents and will be immediately on hand to give help and advice as well as running the houses in practical ways.  They’re always there for a cup of tea and a chat too!  Our volunteers get some great work experience … in fact, two of our current full time staff started out with us as volunteers.

Ex offenders project

Our ex-offenders project aims to help those who’ve been in prison to rebuild their lives.  The 10 bed project is supported by two project workers as well as Shanice, our Meaningful Activities Worker and Louisa, our Mental Health Nurse.  Residents are referred by the prison service, probation service or the council if they are at risk of becoming homeless or vulnerably housed when they leave prison.  It’s often difficult to settle back into the community.  To help with this, residents sign up to participate in three meaningful activities each week such as volunteering, education, finding work and taking up hobbies and leisure activities.  In time, residents can move into a move on house or a working house and, once in steady employment, into their own private tenancies.  Most importantly, it has proved to be a very effective support to residents as they embrace the second chance it gives them.

If you’d like to make a donation to support the work we do you can do so through our website https://cambridgecyrenians.org.uk/support-us/