A COMMUNITY charity has been awarded a £97,000 grant to support and expand its work in Hillfields.
The National Lottery Community Fund money for Hillfields Community Garden will pay for new and expanded services, and staff to deliver them, over the next three years.
It includes funding for three events organised by the charity each year – November’s lantern parade, the January wassail and summer event in June.
The money will allow the group to make some of its monthly events weekly, and partly fund a new Roots to Wellbeing programme focused on improving mental health through outdoor activity.
Hillfields Community Garden was set up by four local women in 2021 and has gone from strength to strength, supporting regular events, groups and activities involving residents.
Chief executive Sarah Rogers said the money would help fund five paid roles, including a nature learning leader and community connector, and a schools programme so children can learn in and enjoy the garden.
She said: “This will change the future of the community garden.
“We’re going to be able to design with residents, and deliver with volunteers, so many weekly activities that we previously only ran monthly, like our Mini Explorers sessions for young families.
Lantern parade
“We will be able to have much more meaningful engagement with people.”
The next big event for Hillfields Community Garden is the third annual lantern parade, from Hillfields Library to the garden, on the afternoon of November 23 from 4pm.
Lantern making workshops are being held at Hillfields Library in the run-up to the event: the next one is on Sunday November 17, from 10am to midday.
Hillfields Community Garden is also looking for volunteers to help run a new walking group to explore the area and promote exercise.
Anyone who would like to get involved should email engage@hillfieldscommunitygarden.co.uk.
More details of events and activities can be found here.