The Foundation is pleased to have supported Martineau Gardens, a community garden in Edgbaston, during COVID-19 which has ensured the continuation of their vital therapeutic horticulture service.
Thanks to grants from the Foundation’s Coronavirus Resilience Fund, and an award from The National Lottery Community Fund, the community garden has been able to restart its project which supports people from across Birmingham by managing their mental health and improving wellbeing.
Referred to as volunteers, many participants are vulnerable, socially isolated and / or living with long-term mental health issues.
When lockdown began, government guidelines meant that the volunteers were unable to attend the gardens. For many, their regular visits to the gardens had become a ‘lifeline’ which provided the mental support they needed to keep healthy. The funding has meant that equipment and additional staff have been employed and the volunteers are now gardening in socially distanced pairs.
Tim Bruton, Trustee for Martineau Gardens said:
“This support means we can provide help at a time when it’s needed more than ever through the COVID-19 crisis. Though not yet open again to the public, Martineau Gardens is being well cared for and preserved for the wider community, thanks to the dedication of our much-valued volunteers.
“The gardens are a green space much used by and cherished by the local community and we look forward to the time when we can re-open again.”
Tina Costello, Foundation CEO, said:
“The last few months have been a challenge for everyone’s mental health. For those who rely on the services that Martineau Gardens provide, it was vital that we helped them get back up and running as soon as it was safe to do so.
“We’re glad that normal service is starting to resume, and their volunteers can access such a important lifeline.”
To apply for a grant from the Coronavirus Resilience Fund please click here.