Community groups can apply for Invergrow funding
Community groups across Inverclyde can apply for grants to help grow their outdoor food spaces.
The Invergrow Project was launched last year thanks to funding from the UK Government.
It provided £31,000 of funding to 11 groups across Inverclyde to support large and small food growing projects, encourage volunteers and build partnerships between communities.
Now in its second year, the Invergrow Resource Fund has opened for applications of between £1,000 and £3,000 for groups to support their volunteers.
The grants will provide resources for volunteers to support food growing. Applicants will be asked to provide evidence of the impact the resources will have on their growing space and how they will further enhance the volunteers’ growing experience.
The Invergrow Grant Fund is now open and will close on on Wednesday 19 February 2025 at 5.30pm.
For more information and to apply, click on the link on the right hand side of this page.
Inwork Enterprises / Broomhill Gardens and Community Hub has been developing a community growing space within Phase 2. An area has been cleared in the former school playing field specifically for this. Type one rubble has been covered with tar shavings and compacted to create a smoother surface making it wheelchair accessible and easier for people who might be less stable on their feet.
What has been achieved with the Invergrow Funding?
With the Invergrow funding received we have constructed eight large raised growing beds. We engaged with Action for Children and some of their young clients were involved in the construction. The raised beds will be treated to preserve the timber and lined before being filled with earth in January and February. We have teamed up again with Action for Children and they are working with referrals from criminal justice on community orders and they will be involved in this piece of work as an ongoing project.
We have sourced soil locally which will be used to fill the planters in readiness for growing in the spring when the community can grow vegetables with help and advice from our onsite qualified horticulturists and craft gardeners
What difference did the Invergrow fund make to your organisation?
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We have established working partnerships with organisations such as: Action for Children, The Scottish Prison Service, Inverclyde Council, NHS, staff from local banks and building societies, members of the public, other community centres and groups in Inverclyde
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It has ensured communities have the resources they need to be able to take part in food growing
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As well as the raised growing beds we will create additional capacity in one of our greenhouses so that plants and veg can be grown from seed or provide a space to work in inclement weather
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Contribute towards a reduction in poverty through strong partnership working
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We are members of the Inverclyde Food Growing Network and work with other partner organisations in a quest to reduce food poverty in Inverclyde.