Grow NI have received a £300 community grant from Energia Group, parent company of Northern Ireland’s leading energy supplier Power NI.
The North Belfast based charity was nominated to receive the community funding by Energia Group employee, Geraldine O’Neill, as part of the company’s staff sponsorship scheme ‘Helping Hands’, which gives staff the opportunity to put forward local groups and organisations for funding. Thanks to the donation, the charity was able to purchase a mud kitchen with accessories for asylum and refugee children to play with in the Grow Community Garden.
Grow NI, began in 2008, a small charity working with communities to create community gardens in their area. Grow are passionate about developing and trying new things and incorporating the things that work into their model. They have now began including cooking and eating together in their weekly sessions as they try to bring those who may be isolated, suffering with mental or physical health issues, or those who jus want to spend a bit more time outdoors together, all while enriching the local area.
Grow NI currently have two gardens. One at The Waterworks in North Belfast, and one at Camberwell Court, where they work with order people, 60 years old and above. Grow is just as much about growing community as it is about growing food and flowers. In addition to holding weekly sessions in the gardens, Grow also hold community events which are open to all the community.
Energia Group is delighted to support Grow NI by providing funding for outdoor equipment for asylum and refugee children to play with in the Grow Community Garden. The addition of a mud kitchen for the children to play with in the garden will help to keep them entertained and involved in community gardening.
Grateful for the funding, Energia Group employee Geraldine O’Neill commented:
“In my 3.5 years volunteering with Grow I have seen how their reach extends far beyond their limited resources. Grow allows the local community to plant, play, eat, learn and make friends. This generous contribution allows families to enjoy, appreciate and embrace the garden in all types of weather.”
Grow NI Project Co-Ordinator, Claire Peacocke commented:
“We are delighted to receive £300 from the Power NI Helping Hands initiative. The money supports active outdoor play and creativity for families using our community garden. Our staff and volunteers are thrilled to get this sort of support for the garden.”
Find out more on how Power NI is energising local communities.
