Up The Garden Bath - UNITY

We're creating Cambridgeshire's largest collaborative community project, uniting 500 local businesses to help 30,000 people.

Join us in transforming waste into wonder, and communities into thriving, sustainable spaces! 

Up The Garden Bath (UTGB) is an award-winning social enterprise in Cambridgeshire,  with a mission to repurpose discarded materials like old bathtubs into beautiful educational garden planters. 

Our planters are installed in schools, care homes, and community spaces to teach sustainability, combat food poverty, and create greener, healthier environments.

Our reward based UNITY campaign on Crowdfunder is your opportunity to invest in a future where learning, recycling, and community spirit come together. 

We’re aiming to raise an initial £50,000, but are confident that with your support, we can raise up to £250,000 to expand our projects, secure UTGB’s future, and continue creating vibrant green spaces where everyone can grow and connect.

While we initially hoped to avoid crowdfunding due to potential misconceptions, we’ve designed this campaign to be rewards-based, ensuring that supporters receives something tangible in appreciation for their contribution.

Why Support Us?

You can help us:

● Educate Future Generations: Teach children hands-on lessons about the environment and sustainability.

● Fight Food Poverty: Transform neglected spaces into productive gardens.

● Champion Recycling: Reduce waste by repurposing materials into something meaningful.

● Build Better Communities Empower people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to connect and thrive.

● Boost Local Economies: Our UNITY retail space in Queensgate Shopping Centre has already generated thousands of pounds in sales for local businesses.

What Your Support Means

Every contribution will help us:

● Install more upcycled planters in schools and communities.

● Sustain UNITY, our collaborative retail space that supports small local businesses.

● Provide opportunities for education, skills development, and environmental action.

Your Impact

With your support, we can continue to turn waste into opportunity, bringing people together while making a positive impact on the environment. 

Every pound you donate helps create a brighter, greener, and more connected future for all.

By contributing, you're not just supporting UTGB, you’re investing in a future where communities thrive together. With your help, we can make a difference for over 30,000 people each year, providing hands-on learning, creating green spaces, and fostering connections among people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Your support extends far beyond our organisation - it helps children learn, connects communities, creates opportunities, and strengthens local small businesses.

What do we offer in return?

All our reward packages provide visibility and engagement opportunities with our community projects across Cambridgeshire. This is your chance to be part of something monumental.

This is your opportunity to support us in building a brighter future, where education, sustainability, and community thrive together. 

Help us in our mission to create a brighter, more sustainable world. United, we can transform neglected spaces, educate future generations, and uplift small businesses in a way that benefits everyone.

Let’s create a world where we can all grow and learn side by side. 

Together we can put the UNITY back into the community!

Join the movement. Make a difference. Support Up The Garden Bath and "Give it a grow" today!

Rewards Information 

Although our rewards packages are predominantly targeted towards businesses we want to make this crowdfunding attempt accessible to everyone who wishes to show their support. 

Please see the rewards options to purchase your selected sponsorship package.

Individual Donations

Every single pound counts. Whether you can give £1 or £100, every contribution helps our cause enormously, and even the smallest of donations goes a long way. Your kind contribution will allow us to continue our projects and we really appreciate your support. (Please only donate to our cause if you are in a suitable financial position to do so).

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Corporate Sponsorship (Various options)

In return for sponsorship/funding we are able to offer CSR opportunities for your staff, reciprocal promotional opportunities via our website & extensive social media network, inclusion in any press releases, advertising opportunities via signage on our company transportation & promotion via our installations, workshops & community events. 

All corporate sponsorship packages run for one year only.

Please see the rewards options to purchase your selected corporate sponsorship package. 

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Bronze Sponsorship Reward Package

Cost: £100

Quantity Available: 400

What do you get in return?

● One of our unique upcycled, zero waste Fabric Plant Pots. (Plant not included).

● Your name/company name added to our exclusive "Honour Board" in our UNITY store. This will be clearly visible in our store for one year and will be seen by over 150,000 people. 

● Your name/company added to our exclusive online supporters directory. 

● Promotional opportunities via our social media channels to acknowledge and promote your contribution to our ongoing projects.

● Promotion of your organisation via our public workshops and community events.

● CSR & community payback opportunities for your organisation to get involved in and make a difference across Cambridgeshire.

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Silver Sponsorship Reward Package

Cost: £250 per year.

Quantity Available: 50

What do you get in return?

● Your sponsorship/donation will be used to fund one week sponsorship of our funzone/crafting/workshop area. Your contribution will be used to purchase crafting materials and supplies as well as allow us to provide FREE activities in our UNITY store in Queensgate.

● Your name/company name & logo added to our exclusive "Funzone Sponsor Board" in our UNITY store. This will be clearly visible above our crafting/workshop area in our store for one year and will be seen by over 150,000 people. 

● Your company profile and a working backlink to your website added to our exclusive online supporters business directory.

● Promotional opportunities via our social media channels to acknowledge and promote your contribution to our ongoing projects.

● Promotion of your organisation via our public workshops and community events.

● Inclusion of your logo on our promotional literature which is distributed via our UNITY store and at public events & festivals.

● CSR & community payback opportunities for your organisation to get involved in and make a difference across Cambridgeshire.

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Gold Sponsorship Reward Package 

Cost: £2,500 per year.

Quantity Available: 25

What do you get in return?

● Your sponsorship will allow us to revisit, rejuvenate and replant one of our many upcycled bathtub planters across Cambridgeshire. This will include planters located in educational facilities and in public areas.

● This package includes delivery of our fun, interactive workshop tailored to suit the demographic & requirements of the location of the planter. 

● Your name/company name & logo added to our exclusive "2025 Sponsor Board" in our UNITY store. This will be clearly visible above our crafting/workshop area in our store for one year and will be seen by over 150,000 people. 

● Your company profile and a working backlink to your website added to our exclusive online supporters business directory.

● Promotional opportunities via our social media channels to acknowledge and promote your contribution to our ongoing projects.

● Promotion of your organisation via our public workshops and community events.

● Inclusion of your logo on our promotional literature which is distributed via our UNITY store and at public events & festivals.

● CSR & community payback opportunities for your organisation to get involved in and make a difference across Cambridgeshire.

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Platinum Sponsorship Reward Package

Cost: £5,000 per year.

Quantity Available: 25

What do you get in return?

● One of our unique upcycled bathtub planters installed into a facility of your choice. Installation will include delivery of our fun, interactive workshop tailored to suit the demographic & requirements of your chosen location. Your sponsored planter will include a plaque clearly displaying your company’s logo in acknowledgement of your contribution.

● 1 x Highly visible hexagonal sponsor space (250mm x 250mm) for your company’s logo on our company vehicle.

● 1 x Highly visible hexagonal sponsor (190mm x 220mm) space for your company’s logo on the exterior shop front of our UNITY shop in Queensgate for one year. This will be seen by over 500,000 people.

● 1 x Highly visible rectangular space  (1100mm x 200mm) for your companies logo above one off our vendor spaces in our UNITY store for one year and will be seen by over 150,000 people.

● Promotional opportunities via our social media channels to acknowledge and promote your contribution to our ongoing projects.

● Promotion of your organisation via our public workshops and community events including via our UNITY store in Queensgate.

● Inclusion of your logo on our promotional literature which is distributed via our UNITY store and at public events & festivals.

● CSR & community payback opportunities for your organisation to get involved in and make a difference across Cambridgeshire.

● Your company profile and a working backlink to your website added to our exclusive online supporters business directory.

Please see the rewards options to purchase your selected sponsorship package.

All sponsorship packages provide visibility and engagement opportunities with our community projects across Cambridgeshire.

Every penny raised goes directly back into our community efforts, ensuring that our spaces and projects remain accessible, inclusive, and impactful to everyone.

By contributing, you're not just supporting UTGB, you’re investing in a future where communities thrive together. With your help, we can make a difference for over 30,000 people each year, providing hands-on learning, creating green spaces, and fostering connections among people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Join us in our mission to create a brighter, more sustainable world. Together, we can transform neglected spaces, educate future generations, and uplift small businesses in a way that benefits everyone.

Still not convinced? Please keep reading to learn more about who we are, what we do, whom we help, and how you can support our cause through our reward-based crowdfunding campaign.

Who are Up The Garden Bath?

Up The Garden Bath (UTGB) are an award-winning, pioneering educational and environmental community project based in Cambridgeshire. 

The UTGB network repurpose unwanted materials, such as old bathtubs, into educational garden planters and accessories, which are then installed into educational and community areas. 

This initiative is supported by our innovative collaborative retail project, UNITY based in Queensgate Shopping Centre - Peterborough.

Founded in February 2020 (not the best time in recent history to launch a community project!) by Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer, UTGB aims to educate future generations, combat food poverty, promote recycling, create opportunities, and improve health, wellbeing, and the environment.

UTGB has established a network of local businesses that share our educational and environmental goals of reducing waste and promoting sustainability. 

Our unique upcycled bathtub planters are installed into schools, community areas, and residential care homes, where they are used to teach people about recycling, gardening, sustainability, food production, and wildlife preservation.

Since bursting onto the scene in February 2020, UTGB has been spreading joy and greenery across Cambridgeshire, installing over 70 stunning upcycled bathtub planters and inspiring over 30,000 people of all ages and abilities to get their hands dirty and give it a grow!

We believe that gardening is a powerful tool for healing and growth, and we're passionate about making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or ability. That's why we're dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved.

What's more, our unique planters are crafted with love and care by individuals who may have faced challenges in their lives, including those with disabilities, addiction issues, or mental health problems. By partnering with youth organisations, colleges, and charities, we're not only creating beautiful planters, but also empowering people to overcome obstacles and discover new skills through hands-on learning.

We're proud of the impact we've made so far, and we're just getting started. Join us on our mission to bring people and plants together, and let's grow a brighter, more inclusive future for all!"

UTGB works with local communities and businesses to create community gardens and regenerate neglected areas into pop up pollinator parks, encouraging social cohesion and local pride.

Media link - UTGB give it a grow as they try to regenerate Peterborough.

Our new ‘Gardening Angels’ project supports those who need help maintaining their outdoor spaces, with volunteers transforming gardens and offering ongoing support.

UTGB pride themselves on their collaborative working approach and have collaborated with businesses like FatFace and Compare The Market on CSR programs.

UTGB has a strong track record of collaborating with communities, educational providers and relies on core staff and volunteers to deliver its projects.

Since September 2023, UTGB has expanded its staff from two to five, including opportunities for ex-homeless individuals and individuals with learning difficulties & physical disabilities. 

As government funding becomes harder and harder to access, UTGB has had to evolve commercially to ensure continued growth. This has included modest sales revenue from our own patented invention of a zero-waste, upcycled fabric pop-up plant pot.

Media link - UTGB reinvent the plant pot with Fabrepot.

The success of our invention led UTGB to look for suitable retail solutions for the product & resulted in UTGB taking their first steps into the world of retail and the launch of our groundbreaking UNITY retail project. 

Media link - UTGB launch the UNITY project.

What is UNITY?

UNITY is an award winning collaborative community retail project run by our groundbreaking community group UTGB. 

Located in Peterborough's largest retail destination (Queensgate Shopping Centre), UNITY is redefining retail and assisting with the funding and delivery of our educational and environmental community projects throughout Cambridgeshire.

Media link - UNITY in Queensgate Shopping Centre.

Since its permanent launch in November 2023, UNITY has had over 150,000 customer visits, 25,000 transactions and generated sales revenue of £400,000+ for over 100 local businesses as UTGB encourages the shoppers of Peterborough to ditch the internet and support local businesses.

Media link - UNITY project helps local businesses.

UNITY is the perfect example of a symbiotic, collaborative and sustainable business model. It helps small local businesses, it helps fund our educational and environmental projects and most importantly it brings people together. 

The concept is very simple, it's becoming harder and harder for small businesses to afford their own premises. Most can't afford the exorbitant costs of their own shop, so instead we share a shop, we share the costs, everyone gets an equal space, and everyone gets to reach a large retail audience and grow together. 

The collaborative approach gives small local businesses, charities, makers, crafters and artists a chance to sell their handmade products. Some people have compared it to an indoor local Etsy but it's much better than that!

The UNITY project has created an affordable solution for small businesses whilst also creating a wonderful retail store for shoppers packed to the rafters with handmade products from local businesses. 

The shop has a positive vibrancy that uplifts people and customers are always greeted and leave with a smile. The now famous ‘Bell of Gratitude’ ensures customers feel valued and appreciated for their support. 

Yes, UNITY is a retail store but it is so much more and benefits so many different people. 

There is a permanent FREE craft table for kids and regular FREE educational workshops. UNITY has provided FREE crafting and educational workshops to 12,500 people of various ages and abilities in the last 12 months.

This includes 3,000 people in just 50 days during the summer half term holidays.

Media link - Daily FREE family fun at UNITY.

We welcome everyone at our UNITY store and regularly work with other charities such as Peterborough Cat Rescue, Peterborough Pride, National Literacy Trust and Cambridgeshire Deaf Awareness Association.

The success of the UNITY project has also allowed UTGB to secure funding from the Combined Authority of Cambridge & Peterborough to deliver targeted digital upskilling opportunities to both the over 60's and unemployed. 

Our UNITY store is based on collaboration and co-operation and has morphed into a modern combination of community shop and community centre. It brings people together in an upbeat environment where they can shop, learn new skills, and make new friends.

Any additional revenue created from the UNITY project is used to support the delivery of UTGB's innovative educational and environmental community projects across Cambridgeshire.

Media link - UNITY helps fund community projects.

UNITY has quickly become one of the most valued stores within Peterborough. This was illustrated when the UNITY store was voted runners up in the “Best Independent Store” and “Shops you can't live without” in the Queensgate Retail Awards 2024 and our UNITY project has recently been nominated as one of three finalists in the REVO awards for “Best Independent UK Operator”.

Media link - UTGB nominated for national retail award.

The huge success of the UNITY project has been recognised & highlighted to a crowd of over 3,000 small business owners from across the UK by retail powerhouse and former BBC Dragon Den judge Theo Paphitis at his business conference in Birmingham.

Media link - UTGB win Small Business Award from Dragon's Den's Theo Paphitis.

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UTGB is a success story. 

• Despite launching the project at the height of a worldwide pandemic in 2020, UTGB has seen unprecedented success during the last few years.
• We have quickly established ourselves as one of Cambridgeshire most dynamic social enterprises working in partnership with the following organisations. 

• We have upcycled and installed over 70 of our bathtub planters across Cambridgeshire and delivered our fun, interactive, activity workshops to 30,000 people. 

• UNITY has now had over 25,000 transactions and generated sales revenue of £400,000+ for over 100 local businesses.
• Our following has steadily increased and our social media audience reach is now 370,000+ people per year. (July 2023 - July 2024 - Facebook & Instagram)
• UTGB have been fortunate enough to be able to create temporary job opportunities for long term unemployed individuals under the government "Kickstarter" campaign. 

• 2023 saw more significant successes and growth, including endorsement by Big Issue founder Lord Bird, £70k in National Lottery funding, winning the Sustainability Award in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph Business Awards, and the launch of the UNITY retail project.

Media link - UTGB hit the jackpot by winning £70k funding from National Lottery and ITV.

• Our co-founders Dave and Kez have both received Civic Awards from Peterborough City Council in recognition of their ongoing community endeavours and contribution to the city. 
• UTGB were recently finalists in the BBC Cambridgeshire "Make A Difference Awards" and have been recognised internationally by winning the prestigious “Green Apple Environment” award. 

• UTGB has been featured significantly in local media and has appeared numerous times on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. 2024 saw its first appearance on national television with a short cameo on BBC Sunday Morning Live. 

• Up The Garden Bath has also been chosen to feature on a Peterborough themed official Monopoly Board made by Hasbro. 

The Future for UTGB

• Looking ahead to 2025 and onwards, UTGB plans to sustain its growth through increased staffing, corporate sponsorship, and relocation to a larger workspace. 
• We will be directly interacting with approximately 30,000 people a year via our UNITY store and educational & environmental work across Cambridgeshire. 
• Exciting upcoming projects include the continuation and expansion of the "UNITY" and "Gardening Angels" projects.  
• Commencing work on Peterborough's largest community garden called the ORACLE - (Outdoor, Regional, Agricultural, Community, Learning, Experience) after planning approval was recently approved for the redevelopment of the former East of England Showground site. 

Media link - UTGB to create Peterboroughs largest community garden.

ORACLE Community Garden 

Built by the community for the community, our ORACLE will be freely accessible to everyone and includes areas dedicated to educating people about recycling, biodiversity, health & wellbeing and agricultural techniques.

O.R.A.C.L.E's are a truly collaborative effort involving other local CIC's, youth organisations, artists & businesses who help create a memorable space for everyone.

Our O.R.A.C.L.E will provide a safe, secure location where anybody can drop in and pick up a shovel and plant a seed. We create spaces where people can be inspired, relax, bloom and grow together.

Work is due to commence on our flagship ORACLE community garden in early 2025.

What do we need and why?

We’re aiming to raise an initial £50,000, but are confident that with your support, we can raise up to £250,000 to expand our projects, secure UTGB’s future, and continue creating vibrant green spaces where everyone can grow and connect. 

While we initially hoped to avoid crowdfunding due to potential misconceptions, we’ve designed this campaign to be rewards-based, ensuring that supporters receives something tangible in appreciation for their contribution.

The funding will not only allow us to secure the ongoing future of our community retail project in Queensgate it will allow us to create opportunities and expand our operations and services.

Why do we need your help? 

We can not continue to grow and help others without your help! We are stronger together so let's put the UNITY back into the community.

We have recently agreed a 3 year contract to continue with our hugely successful collaborative community retail project UNITY in Queensgate Shopping Centre until 2027.

As part of this new agreement UTGB will now have to cover a large part of the ongoing costs of rent, utilities, business rates and other expenses. 

Media Link - 3 more years of UNITY

Delivery of UTGB projects is entirely dependent on external funding and UTGB is constantly applying for suitable funding opportunities where available. 

There are now over 26,000 CICs (as of 31st March 2022) delivering substantial benefits to communities across sectors including health, social care, transport and the environment throughout the UK. 

The large amounts of CICs competing for funding and the long delays associated with funding decisions leads to increasing uncertainty with regards to project delivery.

Although UTGB has a very successful track record with accepted funding applications, it is becoming increasingly difficult to rely on this source of income to fulfil demand for UTGB services. 

Without a contribution of funding/sponsorship from external organisations and individuals our community projects risk being limited from achieving its full potential.

Over 70 local educational facilities have expressed an interest in the educational development activities offered by UTGB. Our service underpins the vital contribution that schools make to develop and strengthen students' understanding of the importance of healthy eating, recycling and sustainability. 

It is currently impossible to service all enquiries without a significant increase in production and delivery of our services. 

How can you help?

We are now actively seeking additional funding/donations and sponsorship from individuals and organisations to help us continue on our journey. 

We are particularly looking for corporate sponsors who share our ethos for education, recycling and sustainability but we welcome and appreciate any contribution towards our aim.  

Support UTGB and help us create opportunities and educate people about gardening, growing, sustainability & the importance of recycling. 

We welcome any support that you may be able to offer and we hope that you are able to support our vision.

Where will any donation money go? 

Any funds raised via donations, grants or sponsorship goes directly towards the ongoing costs of our project. 

Who will you be helping? 

Every day, our projects make a positive difference in the lives of at least 75 people. By supporting us, you’re also uplifting countless others within our community.

By 2025, our work will positively impact 30,000 people annually via our UNITY store and various educational and environmental programs across Cambridgeshire.

This is your opportunity to support us in building a brighter future, where education, sustainability, and community thrive together. 

Help us in our mission to create a brighter, more sustainable world. United, we can transform neglected spaces, educate future generations, and uplift small businesses in a way that benefits everyone.

Let’s create a world where we can all grow and learn side by side. 

Together we can put the UNITY back into the community!

Join the movement. Make a difference. Support Up The Garden Bath and "Give it a grow" today!

With heartfelt thanks,

Up The Garden Bath