Community Garden CIC
Developing a unique service where young adults are empowered to learn independent living, social and employability skills
Planning Approved
On the 24th June 2022 planning permission was passed by Darlington Borough Council. 21/00753/FUL
This is our proposed plan for the five acres of land we have at Brafferton, it will be used for agricultural, animal care, a farm to fork programme selling home grown vegetable to local businesses and also using them in our own barn café on site. We will also have a selection of animals and hope that local schools and other care facilities will access our site .
Fund a Fence
We are now working on Phase One of our plans to open our Brafferton site. We have a wishlist of things we really need as work progresses. If you can help with our wishlist, please get in touch.
From field to fork
The Barn
The Barn will be used as base camp, the champions will come here first in a morning to check in and get their morning briefings, also to find out what jobs need doing that day and to sign up for activities.
There will also be a work area here to with ICT facilities and a therapeutic space for sensory work and relaxation.
We are also looking to put a café in here that will be run by some of the champions , this is another great opportunity to learn life skills, employability skills too.
Community Garden
On site there will be a Community Garden which will include a sensory area that the champions will help design. This will include an area to explore using their sense of smell and touch, like berries and herbs and scented flowers. We will introduce a design area incorporating colour and different styles that our champions create themselves. There will be accessible raised walkways throughout the site as well as raised beds to make it easy for wheelchair users to work at waist height in the polytunnels.
Animal Care
The project will expand upon the animal care activities we have at Rof 59.
We know that animal care is a form of therapy which can have a positive effect on mental health and sense of wellbeing. We noticed that after the pandemic, when a lot of our young adults were isolated, their mental health and social skills deteriorated. Introducing animal care is a therapy aid in itself – being around horses, pygmy goats, rabbits and chickens is a stimulant and helps us feel good.
How You Can Help
This is a Community Project, we are looking for support to get this project off the ground and any help or support you could offer would be an amazing start.
This project will benefit so many lives, from our champions to the local community and also local schoolchildren which will come together to be part of this amazing venture.
If you feel you can support us in anyway please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to come for a visit.
Thank you to our supporters & sponsors
Wall of Appreciation
We would like to thank the following people and businesses for helping us with our amazing new project that is Five Acres Community Gardens 2nd site at Brafferton without your help this would not be possible. From helping with our fund a fence project as well as offers for helping with materials and volunteers as well as your expert advice. We couldn’t do this without you.
From our champions to the local community and also local schoolchildren which will come together to be part of this amazing venture.
If you feel you can support us in anyway please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to come for a visit.