Bromley Gardening Project needs volunteers

1st – 7th June is Volunteers Week 2020! It’s the perfect time to consider how volunteering can positively impact your wellbeing.

To inspire you, we’d like to share the story of one of Ambient’s volunteers turned Project Officer. Trevor’s life changed when he started volunteering with us, and he hasn’t turned back since.

The Ambient Gardening and Horticulture project is a volunteer-supported, not for profit project, that provides residential gardening services to people across Bromley, whilst supporting the mental wellbeing of its volunteers. The money made by the gardening services is reinvested back into the project to buy tools and equipment, so more volunteers with lived experience of mental ill-health can be supported.

With its roots back in 2010, our Project Officer, Trevor, initially started as a volunteer with no gardening experience. An underlying health condition meant he had lost his job and he was looking to try something that might lead onto other things. He has now been involved for a decade.

“Before I started with the project, I’d never had any interest in gardening. Then after getting involved, I started to grow seeds in a polytunnel, and was amazed at the life cycle of seedlings. And how from tiny seeds – vegetables and flowers sprung to life. It really sparked a passion in me that I never knew was there”, says Trevor.

Trevor went on to gain a City and Guilds in Horticulture through the project, and in 2012 was delighted to be offered the position of Horticulture Assistant helping others with lived experience of mental ill-health find their passion and ‘green fingers.’

“For me”, Trevor tells us, “and many others volunteering, it has been life changing. I am now the Project Officer for the project, working with volunteers across Bromley. Most people come along to learn new practical and social skills, and gain confidence, after a period of unwellness, before going on to find new employment. I also have a core of volunteers who have continued to work with me over the past 8 years and are the backbone to the services we provide”.

Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic, many of the volunteers that Trevor so relies on have had to self isolate. This means that Trevor is currently struggling to keep on top of the gardens the project maintains.

“With so many people at a loss being furloughed from work, I wondered if there are a few people who might be able to support me at this time?” asks Trevor. “I am looking for support with gardening duties such as weeding, mowing and trimming back, nothing too onerous, for a few hours a week Monday-Thursday.’

If you have any time and would be willing to support Trevor, please do get in contact with him. You can email your name and contact details to trevor.thomas@ambient.org.uk

*Full Health & Safety requirements and social distancing guidelines linked to any volunteering will be fully met and explained in advance. PPE is held and can be provided at the project. If you have any questions or concerns whatsoever, please contact us.

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