Three of our communities awarded new RHS Community funding
27 January 2022
Three Scottish communities that we work with have been awarded new RHS Community funding: Queens Cross Housing Association, Glasgow – Pantry to Plate project; CLEAR Buckhaven and Methil, Fife – Making Methil Grow project; and The Sorted Project, Edinburgh – PollenNation project.
In late 2021, the RHS launched the RHS Connected Communities Fund and RHS Community Environment Fund to help the growing network of schools and community groups increase social connections and tackle green issues in their local area.
Here’s a summary from our winners:
Queen’s Cross Housing Association
What are you using the funding for and how much have you won?
Susie Stott, Health and Well-being Co-ordinator, QCHA: “We are very happy to announce we’ve been awarded £4,992 for our "Pantry to Plate" project. This will allow us to support a plan to collect surplus harvested produce from ours and other local community gardens via an E-bike driven by a session worker. Produce will then be displayed for FREE distribution in The Pantry (Flourish House) at Wester Common who we work in partnership with.
Who’s involved?
“This funding will help pay for a session worker to travel to local growing sites using the E-bike, then organise produce and package it. This plan helps to reduce food waste, adds fresh FREE locally grown food options to The Pantry and ties in with Glasgow City Councils "Lets Grow Together" food growing strategy. We are hoping to grow more food this year for this purpose and welcome new volunteers to help at our growing spaces.
What does winning mean for the group and the community?
“We hope this will be the start of a food supply process that will blossom!”
CLEAR Buckhaven and Methil
What are you using the funding for and how much have you won?
£3,850 for food growing initiative Making Methil Grow and significant outreach beyond our Methil Community Garden.
Who’s involved?
Individual volunteers, a number facing personal challenges, local schools and nurseries and, probably young people’s groups (16+, Guided Start) and finally Fire & Rescue Service
What does winning mean for the group and the community?
CLEAR Chair Bob Taylor said “this funding from RHS will enable CLEAR to move forward with wider plans to expand community growing with a strong environmental theme based on but reaching out from our vibrant Methil Community Garden. This project will involve and offer local growing opportunities for local people and group, schools and nurseries while also enhancing the local environment.”
The Sorted Project
What are you using the funding for and how much have you won?
Karen Bradford - Project Manager / Founder, The Sorted Project – Edinburgh: “We won £3,000 which will provide 170 hours of specialist sessional worker support along with volunteer/participant travel expenses and refreshments. It will also enable us to purchase wildflower seeds and wild bulbs and hand tools and gloves.
Who’s involved?
“It is a partnership approach and includes members of our team, crew members and volunteers, Scottish Canals, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Scottish Waterways for All, Oatridge College, Edinburgh Recovery Activities and The Wee Bee Company. We will also be linking with our wider recovery and canal / rural interest communities as the work develops over the coming year.
What does winning mean for the group and the community?
“We are very proud indeed to be selected for this grant from the Royal Horticultural Society. It will provide us with essential resources in order for us to make our PollenNation project a success, not only for us but for our local and wider communities.”
You can find out more about the fund and all the UK winning communites and their projects in the RHS news story.
