Hi, I’m Jennie and I’ve worked in the Community Independence team for a while now. I often come across projects that remind me why we do what we do, and this is one of those.
It started with a simple idea from a group of our customers living at Stoney Hills in Buttercrambe, just outside York. They’d been talking about how social isolation was affecting people in the area, especially older people and those who’d recently moved in. They have a shared green space at the front of their houses and the idea was: what if we made it more than just grass? What if it became somewhere people could come together?
Kate and Tony, who’d recently moved in and run a garden maintenance business, were already cutting the grass and planting bulbs off their own backs, and with the support of neighbours like Vicky and Barbara, they decided to turn the idea into a “Peace Garden”.
Kate reached out to us in December last year with a community grant application asking for £2,500 to help bring it to life. She wrote about wanting to add benches, more plants and to create a space that felt looked after and loved. We absolutely loved the idea, but, after reviewing the application, I gave Kate a ring to talk through a few bits. Some of the quotes were a little high, and I knew we could stretch the budget further if we worked together. I also wanted to check if our Environmental Services team or one of our contractors could help as well.
Kate and the group were brilliant. They were open to suggestions and keen to get stuck in. In the end, we managed to get all the benches and plants they wanted for just £1,000 from B&Q, saving a whopping £1,500 from their original request. It meant we could say yes, and more importantly, we could get cracking!
The benches arrived not long after, and they came out to help install them. Watching it all come together, neighbours chatting, digging, laughing, was one of those “almost forgot this is the whole point” moments.
Since then, the Peace Garden has already had a big impact. One resident, who lost his wife last year, has started coming out with his neighbours for a cuppa, another is thinking of restarting her egg-selling and baking business, and Kate’s even thinking about a little honesty stall for her plants.
Another customer who has recently moved in after going through a difficult time and needed some extra support told me the garden has already made a big difference to her. Just being able to sit outside with her daughter, do a bit of weeding, and see neighbours for a chat has helped her feel like she’s part of the community.
It’s not just about benches and flowers, it’s about connection. It’s about turning “somewhere to live” into “somewhere to belong”. And when people ask what our community grants are really for, well, it’s almost like this is the whole point.
Do you have an idea that could bring people together or make a difference in your area? Our community grants of up to £2,500 can help you get it off the ground. Whether it’s a garden, a meet-up, or something completely different – find out how to apply and get started here.