We are delighted to partner with Encompass Southwest, alongside our existing connection with Space Youth Services. This has allowed us to work with a different cohort of young people: Encompass works with young adults with complex lives, often supporting them with accommodation as well as through outreach work. We have worked with Encompass for several years in this context, especially with care leavers and other very vulnerable individuals.
We knew this partnership would therefore produce some interesting outcomes, but we didn’t predict the amazing good fortune of linking with Samir Arslanagic, who combines a role on the Encompass staff with his passion for horticulture (and a background in therapeutic horticulture), in the form of a market garden at Taw Valley Organics, near Barnstaple. Sam is working with a group of young people, most of them past or present Encompass clients, through weekly sessions at the garden. The group has been able to enjoy the stunning location, along with its wildlife, at the same time as developing valuable skills in planting and propagation of vegetables. There are plans to include some cooking sessions on-site (Sam has a gigantic barbeque!)
Some group members have experience in growing and horticulture, but many are learning more about growing food, and where it comes from, for the first time. Then there are some that simply value spending time in a beautiful spot and having something regular to do. Sam explains that many participants say they eat whatever is cheap/in the foodbank or they tend to go for something that is easy and quick to cook. One of the clients admitted to never cooking and relying solely on ready meals.
As the project develops, so does the confidence and creativity of participants. Chris, one of the Space youth workers, explained how he has noticed the shift in cooking sessions from asking ‘what will we make?’ to ‘what can we make from this?’ The young people are more willing to improvise with ingredients according to what is fresh or available, and to deviate from recipes. The same goes for gardening. One young man who has joined the Encompass side of the project has been inspired to spend his own money on enlivening some neglected planters at the shared house where he lives, planting herb seeds for use in cooking, which he enjoys.
The project includes a small grantmaking fund, designed to allow us to work with a wider range of people to explore some of the areas of learning from the core project activities. We are in the process of awarding grants currently, and look forward being able to share more learning from this aspect of the project later in the year.
Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and delivered by the Young Foundation, the Community Knowledge Fund supports grassroots community groups and organisations across the UK to find new solutions to local and national challenges by uncovering knowledge and turning great ideas into action.
Find out more here Community Knowledge Fund – The Young Foundation.
