The old church garden next to St Joseph’ s in Bury was overgrown and abandoned and had become a dumping ground for litter. It’ s the first big project for the team and, with the help of material donations from the local community, has been turned into a welcoming community garden that is accessible to all.
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Many of the group’ s activities and sessions are held at Red Door in Bury, which is run by homelessness charity Caritas. The building offers a warm space for anyone struggling, providing regular meals, laundry facilities and showers to those in need.
After seeing the good work Project FREE do for the community, Caritas generously gave office and activity space for the team to have a base.‘ It’ s a huge help,’ says Bernard.
At the back of the building, nestled between St Joseph’ s Church and local stores, is a garden space that’ s being transformed from an‘ unloved jungle’ into a thriving community space – thanks to the volunteers at Project FREE and the generosity of their neighbours. It’ s their first big project as a team, and so far, it’ s going great …
The garden space was overgrown and abandoned. Previously a church garden, it had been taken over by climbing
ivy, unkempt plants and mounds of discarded litter. The rotten gate leading into the space allowed anyone walking past to throw their rubbish or dump drug paraphernalia – but thanks to the hard work of the Project FREE clean-up squad, it’ s now been cleared.
Lee, who was released two years ago following a 19-year period behind bars, is one of the volunteers who has helped transform the area.‘ It’ s great for the mind, body and soul,’ he says.‘ I feel great and I’ m giving back. It’ s great to see people’ s expressions. I’ ve been at the project for nearly two years. Just after leaving custody, I heard about Bernard, and I’ ve been here ever since. It’ s a lifeline for me. It’ s brilliant how everyone is coming together.’
Now the space has been freed from the years of neglect, the team have big plans to transform the area into a space for everyone to enjoy. On the agenda so far are colourful flower beds, picnic benches and a large mural to brighten up the exterior wall.
Their hard work hasn’ t gone unnoticed either. Their neighbour from Fired Paint a Pot Café has been inspired by their efforts and wants to help the team achieve their goal.
‘ She wants to support us with funding for a new gate and benches as she’ s been trying to get something happening with this space for years,’ says Bernard.‘ She wants to help
to create a space we can both use and enjoy.’ Nearby building materials supplier Jewson has also generously donated gravel to help the team neaten up the space even further.
Talking about the success of the group’ s first big project together, Bernard says that the impact it’ s having on the community‘ is really touching. It’ s been a great project; everyone is really enjoying being a part of it. Everyone putting their own bit in and doing their part. It’ s all about the result at the end.’
Alan has also been volunteering his time on the project, after probation reduced his risk assessment level so that he could engage with the project.‘ It’ s turned my life around,’ he says.‘ All I’ ve known was in and out, like the hokey cokey. Now I come here twice a week, every week. And it’ s given me a totally different change of pace. I’ m 60, I’ ve no time to be wasting. It’ s a good thing for me, it keeps me grounded and surrounds me with like-minded people. Without being here, people would be back in and taking drugs. The positivity and connection make us like a tight-knit family on the same page and it really helps.’
Karen Baggaley is a support worker at Project FREE. Talking about what volunteering on projects like the garden clean-up does for the recovery community, she says that it gives people a purpose.‘ It promotes connection and gives people the confidence and brings friendships together and gets them close,’ she states.‘ They’ ve all worked as a team. It’ s been amazing seeing them work together and create something to be proud of. They’ ve all done it so quickly – it’ s all been done in about 12 hours so far.’
‘ It’ ll help the community a lot,’ adds her colleague Emma Sharkey.‘ It’ s going to make the street look better and gives us space to deliver our sessions – wellbeing and mindfulness and outdoor groups, relaxation.’
Finalising his thoughts on the garden, Bernard concludes:‘ This is our first big project as a team, but how much it’ s inspired the community has inspired us to do more. This street has had a big issue with drugs in the past, so it’ s great to finally start turning it into something good. A lady walking by even told me,“ You guys are all being talked about in the church. What you’ re doing is absolutely amazing.” It’ s great to hear such good feedback.’
Emma Marsden is senior communications officer at The Calico Group
To find out more about Project FREE, visit https:// redroserecovery. org. uk / projectfree / or get in touch by emailing: project. free @ redroserecovery. org. uk
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