Avanti Fields Community Garden / Allotment Project

Aim

We require funding for seeds, plants, tools, water source and equipment for our new Community Garden and allotment on the school grounds.

The Avanti Fields PTFA is a registered charity set up to assist Avanti Fields School in raising funds for various projects and activities that will benefit pupils, parents and the wider school community.

Our ethos places a key emphasis on individual wellbeing and good mental health. Pupils with higher levels of emotional, behavioral, social and school wellbeing, have, on average, higher levels of academic achievement and are more engaged in the school community. The community garden project would greatly enhance this concept by providing our children, from primary through to secondary age, with the facilities and space to work collectively in an environment that promotes well-being. Their contribution and involvement in the outcomes would give them a great skillset which would help them with their emotional, physical and spiritual growth, as well as enhance their environmental awareness.  The garden would also act as a dedicated outdoor area for pupils with SEN needs.  From a wider community perspective, the PTFA will encourage members of the local communities to also participate in the project through gardening clubs and hours which would promote their physical and mental wellbeing.

The school is in an ethnically diverse area, with high levels of deprivation and poor health outcomes. The city is one of the most 25th deprived areas in England. The Humberstone & Hamilton ward (in which the school is within) has a high prevalence of mortality due to heart disease and strokes, as well as early cancer rates and high diabetes rates. The community garden would encourage members of the community to participate in activities that promote better health, wellbeing and nutrition.  The school believes the garden would enhance our engagement with the wider communities by enabling them to feel 'part' of the school community. There has been a positive response to the project from numerous community groups who have expressed an interest to use its facilities. The PTFA will work closely with the local community, residents' associations, businesses and volunteer groups who we have engaged with to promote the garden. The PTFA has identified local organisations to ensure a significant portion of garden produce is donated to local groups. 

Having secured the funding for the majority of the infrastructure works needed for the garden/allotment area, we are now seeking additional funding to route a water tap closer to the location of the garden, equipment, plants, seeds, tools etc to ensure we have everything we need to make the best use of the facilities on a day to day basis. 

This project successfully funded on 1st June 2023