Gateway Collective
Sefton
June 24 - March 25
About Gateway Collective
Gateway Collective works to see thriving people and communities in Bootle. They increase well-being and create lasting social connections using the tool of community gardening.
Their home is North Park Community Garden. In every session they grow and eat together, cooking with what they grow, as this builds relationships and quickly builds personal connections. They share food, produce and recipes to promote healthy eating. Everyone who attends their sessions takes home a share of the produce at harvest.
Gateway Collective was founded by Ali Horton and Janet Hughes who are committed to Bootle and love being a part of the community there.
About One Vision Housing (OVH)
We are an award-winning housing provider offering high quality, affordable housing across the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. We currently manage over 14,400 properties across the region.
We provide a range of rental options from Rent to Buy and Private Rent, to commercial lettings of shops and social housing, creating equal opportunities for all. We were formed in October 2006, following a successful stock transfer from Sefton Council, and operate as a not-for-profit organisation, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing.
As a member of The Sovini Group, One Vision Housing believes in providing good quality, affordable homes for rent and to buy, helping to create thriving and inclusive communities. We work closely with partner organisations to build a better future for our customers, supporting thousands of beneficiaries each year.
Externally recognised as a leading provider of homes and services, One Vision Housing is graded G1 for Governance and V1 for Viability by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Our approach
OVH's Community Development Fund is available for voluntary and community groups who want to deliver projects or services that benefit customers in our communities. The fund has been established to enable community and voluntary organisations to contribute to our vision for a better future. A total of £15,000 is available in the form of grants to voluntary/community groups.
The fund seeks to encourage Community Projects that contribute to the following five key themes: Vulnerable persons, support for local veterans, health & wellbeing, improved community safety, and community environmental initiatives.
Stanley Road Community Garden
A group of OVH customers living on Stanley Road, adjacent to North Park Community Garden, expressed a strong desire to create a community garden within their housing estate and wanted to apply for funding to help purchase essential items to get the garden up and running.
After being made aware of this, The Sovini Group's Stakeholder Engagement Team reached out to Gateway Collective to build a partnership between the customers and community growers to transform the underutilised space into a vibrant hub for local residents.
Gateway Collective were able to secure funding to support residents in establishing and maintaining the garden, including:
- Developing a coordinated growing plan.
- Providing practical support through hands-on learning sessions and access to local resources.
- Facilitating seed cultivation to reduce costs and encourage early planting.
- Creating a stronger sense of community amongst residents.
Open Access Sessions at North Park Community Garden
North Park Community Garden currently runs successful open access sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, attracting a diverse range of individuals, including those living alone, experiencing mental health challenges, or facing social isolation. These sessions provide a vital social and therapeutic outlet, fostering community through shared gardening activities, meals, and conversations.
Recognising the significant positive impact these sessions have on participants' well-being, North Park Community Garden sought funding from OVH to expand the frequency of these open access sessions. This expansion works to:
- Increase accessibility: Provide more opportunities for individuals to benefit from the social, therapeutic, and horticultural benefits of the garden.
- Enhance well-being: Further support the mental and physical health of participants by providing increased opportunities for social interaction, physical activity, and access to fresh produce.
- Strengthen community: Foster a stronger sense of community amongst participants and within the wider local area.
A recent survey conducted by the garden revealed that 91% of respondents stated that attending the garden improves their well-being and sense of community, demonstrating the significant positive impact of these sessions. This funding request aims to build upon this success and further enhance the well-being and social inclusion of individuals within the local community.
Outcomes
The Stanley Road Community Garden project successfully transformed an underutilised space into a thriving community hub. Through the partnership between OVH customers and Gateway Collective, residents gained the skills and resources necessary to cultivate a productive garden. A coordinated growing plan was implemented, practical support was provided via hands-on sessions, and seed cultivation initiatives reduced costs. Crucially, the project fostered a stronger sense of community amongst Stanley Road residents, creating a shared space for connection and collaboration.
Similarly, the expansion of open access sessions at North Park Community Garden yielded significant positive outcomes. By securing funding from OVH, the garden was able to increase the frequency of these sessions, improving accessibility for vulnerable individuals. This expansion provided more opportunities for social interaction, physical activity, and access to fresh produce, thereby enhancing the mental and physical well-being of participants. The project also strengthened community bonds within the garden and the wider local area, offering a vital social and therapeutic outlet for those facing isolation and mental health challenges.
OVH Customer, Terry, had this to say about the Stanley Road Community Garden:
I have loved creating this garden. It’s given me something to do and a sense of purpose and I potter around the garden most days. It gives some beauty to where I live which is otherwise quite grey. It has really helped having the support of Gateway and North Park and I like not having the responsibility of holding the money, and the free plants I get given when I pop over! It was great seeing the spring bulbs that we planted last Autumn bloom this spring and knowing that they will be blooming for years to come is very satisfying.
Nicola Day, Customer Experience Manager, said:
At OVH, we're committed to supporting initiatives that help us create opportunities and change lives in our communities. Seeing the impact of the Stanley Road Community Garden and the expanded open access sessions at North Park Community Garden is incredibly rewarding. The funding we provided has enabled residents to cultivate not just gardens, but also a sense of belonging and well-being. It's a testament to the power of community-led projects, and we're proud to have played a part in their success.