Gateshead Mayor, David Lynn generously donated £1,000 to SIGN, a local gardening project for people with learning difficulties and mental health concerns.
SIGN – Social Inclusion Gardening Network is the initiative of CIC service manager Brenda Cawton. The project gives individuals the opportunity to take part in horticultural activities on three large allotments at the Whinnies, in the North East. Brenda explained, “We are delighted to have been given a donation of £1000 from the mayor’s End of Year fund.” She added, “Our project gives individuals who may have otherwise been excluded in society the opportunity to take part in gardening. The people who participate in the project love working on the allotments, they enjoy mixing socially and take great pride in growing their own plants and vegetables”. Mayor Lynn said “This is a fantastic project and I am delighted to be able to support the group to grow”. The dedication of Brenda and other SIGN members has seen the group raise over £22,000. The scheme has attracted community support with the Probation Team’s ‘Community Payback’ group and British Trust for Conservation Volunteers assisting in the allotments development. Brenda said “This is a great project for our local community and we believe that it will run for many years”. |
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