The Gunny Project, Canvey Island

Aim

We're transforming a neglected site for people & nature: developing a community hub, therapeutic garden, wildlife area, play areas & trees

The Gunny Project: Connecting Communities, Mental Health Support, Getting Physically Active and Environmental Conservation

Trust Links are working with Canvey Island Big Local to revive The Gunny, a neglected 3-acre former military site in the heart of Canvey Island, back into a thriving community space, and we need your help.

Who are Trust Links?

Trust Links is a local independent charity aiming to improve mental health, wellbeing and the environment in Essex. We run 6 Growing Together community gardens in mid and south Essex and are excited to develop a new project on Canvey Island working with local partners.

Who are Canvey Island Big Local?

Canvey Island Big Local is a partnership of local residents, who are part of the Local Trust Big Local Programme funded through The National Lottery Community Fund.

What are our plans?

We have big plans for The Gunny! With support from the wider community and businesses, we can make our plans a reality.

The Gunny will provide a range of facilities to the community including:

• A community building: for the community to meet, socialise, enjoy workshops, activities and access local support services.
• Play areas: For children and young people to play and have fun.
• Outdoor gym facilities: For all ages to benefit from physical activity.
• Picnic benches, raised vegetable beds, pergola, accessible paths: Safe spaces to connect with others, relax, and enjoy the benefits of nature.
• Environmental conservation: a biodiverse space, with a variety of trees, shrubs, natural wetland area and wildflower meadow.
• Growing Together therapeutic gardening project: to support with mental wellbeing, building on successful Trust Links projects across Essex.

Local people will get active through the outdoor gym, play area, and structured gardening activities in this wonderful new space!

Your donation will help provide a valuable, beneficial green space

Picture: What The Gunny looks like at the moment

You can support to help provide a vibrant, green, biodiverse community space for years to come. 

At Trust Links we believe in taking care of the environment because it takes care of us. With donations received through Crowdfunder, we can provide a range of features beneficial to residents of Canvey Island AND to the environment. In the garden area this includes: vegetable growing, beehives, planting trees and shrubs, bug hotels, willow dome, developing a wetland area and a wildflower meadow! We are hoping the new community will include solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and air source heating.

Above image: 3D Plans of the Growing Together section of The Gunny

This beautiful, biodiverse green space will provide a tranquil backdrop for the Growing Together gardens that will be available on The Gunny site, providing therapeutic gardening and social activities to support local people with their mental health and wellbeing. The Gunny Project will transform lives and be a valuable asset to Canvey Island.

This project is also helping people become more active! Not only will we be encouraging people to walk and cycle to the site, but people will enjoy physical activity when they get to The Gunny. Our outdoor gym equipment for teenagers and adults will include a rower, push hands, lat pull and chest presses, air walkers, trinity cycles and long trampolines! Gardening can be a great physical work out too, with digging, pruning, mowing and clearing all increasing anaerobic exercise and strengthening muscles. As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to build our resilience. We are reinventing a neglected space to become a place for positive activity, wellbeing and building community. Can you help make our dream a reality?

Picture: Afternoon Tea Party at Trust Links Thundersley

The Gunny Project is located in an area of multiple deprivation, with higher than average levels of inactivity and obesity. Trust Links and our partners will be running programmes for adults with mental health problems and learning disabilities, young people, and everyone in the community, helping to increase active levels. 

The gardening activities, outdoor gym and play will have a great impact on the health and wellbeing of local people, as it will be a freely accessible resource to increase exercise levels. There will be structured activities and community events, so everyone can get involved and join in! Canvey Island Youth Project will be putting on activities for young people to get them active and involved too.

Picture: Gardening at Growing Together Westcliff

The brand new community building will host a range of activities and services including a men’s shed project, social groups, and peer support groups. The building will also be available for other people to use so it could be used for pilates, yoga, seated exercises or similar can be set up there, once it is established.

Your donation will help pay for trees, shrubs, vegetable growing area, outdoor gym equipment, and the building of accessible paths around the site. All donations are match funded, meaning that your donation will have a greater impact!

Thank you for your support!

Picture: Apple Day run by Trust Links at St Laurence Orchard, Eastwood

This project successfully funded on 2nd November 2023