New Directions Helps Create South Reading Community Garden
10/05/2013
Reading Borough Council Press Release
LOCAL groups and families in South Reading will soon be able to enjoy the use of a community garden thanks to a team of volunteers from the Prince’s Trust working with New Directions.
The small plot of land surrounds the New Directions Centre in Northumberland Avenue and was derelict before the team of volunteers got to work.
The site will now be further developed to grow plants, vegetables and herbs. The centre also features a teaching kitchen which will be used by various organisations to cook with some of the local produce being grown.
The Prince’s Trust volunteers study for the Certificate in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills and the transformation of the garden became the community element of their qualification. Sir John Madejski and Mr Charles Brims (High Sheriff of Berkshire) presented their certificates at a ceremony at Madejski Conference Centre last month.
New Directions is Reading Borough Council’s Learning and Employment Service and is part of the steering group working towards transforming the garden.
In addition to New Directions, the steering group includes Let’s Get Going and Eat 4 Health (both linked to the NHS and promote healthy eating) to adults and families), Food 4 Families (have a network of food growing gardens across Reading where parents and children will learn how to grow their own food together), Thames Valley Housing, and the Reading Borough Council’s Planning Team. Thrive, a local charity that enable those touched by a disability to transform their lives using gardening, has shown an interest and would like a group to use the garden.
Lead Councillor for Education, John Ennis, said “I’m delighted that New Directions continues to find innovative ways to work with a broad range of partners providing opportunities for all the community”.
Community groups interested in making use of the garden should contact New Directions on 0345 842 0012.
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