Sustainable Regeneration
What do we support?
Funding in this relatively new category aims to bring together the themes of
social exclusion and environmentally sustainable development in ways which can help
local communities make the most of their resources and develop new skills and
competencies. In many cases, projects will reflect the themes of the Trust’s
environmental work, such as the promotion of cycling or sustainable agriculture,
and its work with people at risk, including support for employment and enterprise.
We are keen to support projects which link people to the natural environment in a
variety of ways.
What kind of projects have we funded?
We have funded Farms for City Children and Surrey Docks Farm. City farms
introduce pupils from inner-city primary schools to life on a working farm. A
typical day for children staying at one of the farms might include milking, egg
collecting, mucking out, weeding, fruit-picking and apple pressing all fuelled by
meals grown and harvested on-site. Surrey Docks Farm also provides opportunities
for trainees, volunteers and school children to learn about farming at this working
site in Rotherhithe, East London.
This new organisation supports London residents to grow fresh vegetables on
unused pieces of their property – front gardens, balconies, window sills or door
steps. Participants have been inspired by how easily they can grow their own salad
leaves and have found networking with other local growers enormously rewarding.
With the help of a grant this organisation has developed training and job
opportunities for hard-to-reach homeless people in a micro-propagation business
supplying nurseries and garden centres around Southampton.
A grant towards the development of a horticultural social business at Occombe Farm,
to provide employment opportunities for ex-offenders from prisons serving Devon and
Cornwall.
A grant to spread local growing projects amongst communities in the North East of England and
to purchase more fresh produce from local suppliers.
A grant towards the Rising Sun project, which will support Giroscope's business tenants and
members to install solar energy systems in Hull and the wider region.
A grant to deliver horticultural training to low-income housing estate residents in Hackney,
East London.
