Foodbank’s new Sow To Grow scheme aims to beat local food poverty
Volunteers have helped transform a neglected grey concrete space into a community garden as part of Coventry Foodbank’s Sow to Grow scheme. The project provides outdoor wellbeing support and a social space as well as an area in which to grow produce which can, eventually, also be turned into meals via a commercial kitchen on the site.
The garden, which is already yielding fruit and vegetables including strawberries, tomatoes and sweetcorn, occupies a formerly under-utilised space at the rear of the Foodbank’s 25,000 square foot headquarters on an industrial estate in Progress Way. It is the latest part of the charity’s longer term plans to extend its support beyond just food distribution. In time the food grown will also be fed into the foodbank’s feeding programmes, like Coventry Foodbank and The Community Pantries.
Spokesperson for Feed The Hungry and Coventry Foodbank, Rich Smith, said: “The aim of the project is to create a space that is accessible for all, whilst providing opportunities for people to gather, learn and try something new. It was born out of a desire to transform a neglected space into a hive of activity for volunteers, clients and staff, whilst also being a space for the natural world to break from the concrete and flourish.
“Coventry foodbank's positioning in the middle of an industrial estate means there is limited, if not no, green space for people to connect with. We are working at turning this space from a grey, barbed wired, metal fenced area, into a green space for wildlife to explore and people to engage in the natural world.”
He added: “It provides an opportunity for informal support to be given, enabling us to focus on people's wellbeing whilst also building community and friendship in a safe environment. We want people to feel loved and supported, allowing them to journey with us to tackle the root causes of their individual issue.
“We know that many of our clients face challenges such as debt, mental health issues, illness and social isolation. We want to ensure that those who are visiting our garden project feel able to talk with the team, in a fun and positive environment. We believe that getting outdoors and getting together with others has the ability to overcome many of these issues. We want Sow To Grow to be a project that fills people up and brings joy and life.”
The seeds of the idea were able to grow thanks to £4k in funding from the National Garden Scheme. Local businesses have also supported the garden project during special Volunteer Days, including a team from Jaguar Land Rover, who got hands-on with planting and weeding as well as building and painting planters and a shed.
Going forward the garden will be maintained by the foodbank volunteers as well as create further opportunities to engage with other people at risk of entering the foodbank system.
The charity’s Pathfinders Team works with more than 300 support agencies through its callback service to co-ordinate support to tackle the root causes of food poverty.
Over 250k people have received food from the Foodbank in the 12 years since Gavin founded it. The cost of living squeeze is meaning that foodbank use across Coventry is facing its highest ever demand.
Currently, it is feeding 800 people each week which represents an increase from 700 people in January 2023 and 500 people in January 2022. On the last major count, 103 tonnes of food was going out from the charity's distribution centre in Binley, but only 77 tonnes of food was coming in.
Coventry Foodbank is appealing for more volunteers to help maintain the garden. For more information visit: https://coventry.foodbank.org.uk/ or call 02476 993770 between 9am and 4pm.
