Community Gardens 'Grow Community'

A Northern Ireland community garden project to improve the lives of isolated and vulnerable older people has been awarded a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

North Belfast's GROW project will develop three community gardens at sites in Camberwell Terrace Fold, Newington Day Centre and the Waterworks.

A spokesman said that older people who are isolated, lonely and kept indoors by health problems or lack of opportunities or transport will get the chance to take part in group sessions designing gardens, planting and harvesting food and then cooking it, alongside family members and trained volunteers.

Director Siobhan Craig said: "This project is not just about growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, it is about growing community. The new garden projects will give people the chance to enjoy fresh air, and reduce feelings of loneliness."

Mary Connor, 61, from north Belfast, retired early after developing ME.

She said: "It really knocked me for six, not just physically but I became quite introverted and just stayed in the house staring at the walls. I went along to see what GROW was about and I loved it, I met a group of diverse people of all ages and we really gelled."

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said he was pleased to see the Connecting Older People funding having a "really positive impact".

To find out more about the Reaching Out: Connecting Older People programme visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Photograph: Mary Connor, 61, in GROW's Waterworks garden along with the organisation’s Director Siobhan Craig.

(NE)