We have been supporting a partnership food growing allotment project between Grounded Ecotherapy of Providence Row Housing Association and Link Age Plus.
It provides activities for the over 50’s and adults who have experience mental distress, homelessness and addiction who live locally in Tower Hamlets
Grounded Ecotherapy, one of Providence Row projects, maintain the care and plant growing expertise of the gardens. Together with Link Age plus they offer the rewarding activity of gardening which contributes to improving people’s mental and physical wellbeing.
The whole garden survives on donations and voluntary effort. Corporate donations and charitable giving help to enhance the facilities and structures of the gardens, raised beds and borders. A recent contribution has been the new plastic storage shed from ShedStore to replace the collapsing wooden shed that houses the tools.
One of the recent projects included removing the concrete path and using the rumble to build an acoustic bank in an attempt to reduce traffic noise and enhance the tranquillity of the gardens. A fence has been donated by BuyFencingDirect to further screen the visibility and sound of the traffic.
LinkAge Plus is funded by Tower Hamlets Council and Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group. The service is delivered by five community organisations located across Tower Hamlets; The Sundial Centre (Peabody), Toynbee Hall, Sonali Gardens (St. Hilda’s East Community Centre), Age UK East London and Neighbours in Poplar. Each Centre offers a wide range of activities and a team of outreach workers providing one to one support to older adults.