PROPOSALFOR A COMMUNITYGARDENAT THE

BALLYSILLANALLOTMENTSITE

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 Proposolfor ollotmentof BCCBollysillonsitewith Conversotion
Volunteers
ond The
SolvotionArmy
'SEEDS'
is a communityprojectdevelopedby the SalvationArmy in partnership with
ConservationVolunteersNorthernlrelandwhich aims to provideopportunities for
volunteersto take practicalactionto helptheirlocalenvironment.

ProposalOverview

To transformthe site adjacentto BallysillanAllotmentsfrom a dilapidatedunder-used

nurseryinto a communitygardenthroughthe involvement of volunteersand trainees
from SalvationArmy and ConservationVolunteers.

We are proposingthat over a three year period we would transformthe currenly

dilapidatedsite into a community garden in which a variety of horticultural
programmesand eventscan be delivered.Thesewill be in serviceto both the local
communityand those who use the services of The SalvationArmy/Conservation
Volunteers.lmportantly,these programmeswill providemeaningfulopportunities
and
a sense of purpose to those who benefitfrom the servicesof The SalvationArmy
SocialServices.

The projectwill be deliveredthough the partnershipof the SalvationArmy and

ConservationVolunteersand will includea wide rangeof trainingopportunities
for all
thoseinvolved.

ConservationVolunteershave over 25 years experienceof involvingpeople in local

environmentalprojectsand currentlydelivera rangeof food growingand community
developmentprojectsthroughoutNorthernlreland.The SalvationArmy deliversa
SocialWork serviceto the most marginalised membersof our community.Therefore,
the combinedexpertiseand inputfrom theseorganisations is perfectlyand uniquely
placedto maximisethe potentialbenefitsof a projectof this nature.

The proposalwill involveextensiveclearanceand restorationof the site whichwill be

developedinto a positiveasset to the community.The projecthas been assessedby
both organisations and we are confidentwe can deliverthe proposedwork to a high
standardwithinthe timeframerequested.

All activitiesundertakenthrough the projectwill be risk assessed and covered by

Conservation Volunteers'PublicLiabilityand Employer'sLiabilityinsurance.

It is initiallyenvisionedthat this plan will help transformthe site into a Community

Garden for families and will also provide opportunitiesfor volunteersto gain
experienceand skillsin a varietyof environmental subjectsincluding:

. OrganicGardening,
. Miniwildflowerand shrubnursery
o HorticulturalTherapy
. VocationalTraining
o Returnto work focusedtraining.

Centenory 2 Victorio
House, Street
Belfost,
BTI3GE
 Proposol
for ollotmentof BCCBollysillon
sitewiih Conversotion
Volunteers
ond The
SolvotionArmy
Proposedprogrammeschedule

YEAR 1: Preparation
and planning.

Initialworks will involveextensiveclearanceof the site which we will undertake

primarilythrough the help of volunteersfrom both organisationsand the local
community.Practicalwork will include:

Siteclearance:
' Removal of unsound structures including 2x dilapidated greenhouses,
woodenshed.
o Removaland recyclingof scrap metal.
. cutting down and removingrootsof trees and largeshrubs.
o Restorationof existingpaths and steps.

Site maintenance:
. Repairexistinggazebo
. Clearanceand storingof numerousreusablenurserymaterialson site.
o Extensivepruningof existingvegetation.
. Reconnection of watersupply

Sitedevelopment:
. Constructraisedbeds for the purposeof growingfood.
o Ensuresitedesignis inclusiveto familiesand volunteerswith limitedmobility.
o Develop the site to include space for a range of nursery activities,a
communitygardenand a horticultural
trainingfacility.

YEAR 2: Duringthe secondyear we hope to be deliveringa numberof horticultural

projects.These includedeliveringvocationaltraining(NVas) to participantsas they
developnew skillsand learn in a 'handson' way about horticultureand managing
projectsof this nature.We would also delivera HorticulturalTherapyProgramme
(Green Gym) to participantscomprisedfrom both the local surroundingarea and
also from those using the servicesof The SalvationArmy & ConservationVolunteers.

YEAR 3: By year 3 we envisagethe site will be fully developedas a community

garden and a horticulturaltrainingfacilityprovidinga wealth of opportunities for
peopleto be involvedin the whole rangeof programmesincludingfood growingand
training.ln additionwe would seek to host a number of communityevents and
activities(e.9.family/children's
events)whichwill involvethe wider communityof the
Ballysillanarca.

The projectwill follow good environmentalpracticeincludingrecyclingall waste,

growingproduceorganicallyand maintaining
a safe and tldy site.

2 VictorioStreetBelfost,
CentenoryHouse, BTI3GE
 Proposol
for ollotmentof BCCBollysillon Volunteers
sitewith Conversotion ond The
, SolvotionArmy

In additionto the practicalwork,we will undertakethe followingadditionaltasks:

o Preparationof Risk Assessmentto coverall work on site

o ldentifyclientgroupand potentialvolunteers.
o Engagewith localCommunityAssociations and AllotmentHolders
a Securefurtherfundingfor developmentof project.
o Designa trainingprogrammefor participants and the widercommunity
(includingotherallotmentholders)
a Publicisethe projectto raise awarenessof positiveimpactsof the project.
o Establisha managementcommittee.
o Followany guidelinesfor projectswithinBelfastCity Council'sAllotmentsites.

Monitoringand Evaluation
The projectwill be monitoredthroughoutthe 3 years by a managementcommittee
involvingrepresentatives from ConservationVolunteers,SalvationArmy, BelfastCity
CouncilParks Department,Ballysillan AllotmentCommitteeand a local Community
Association. Outputs and outcomes of the project will be recorded using
Conservation Volunteers'ManagementInformationService(MlS) and a photograph
diarywill be used as a recordof progress.

In order to achievethis programmewe requestassistancefrom BelfastCity Council

for the following:
1. Approvalto use the availablesite adjacentto Ballysillan Allotmentswith an
initialleaseof three years with an optionto renew.
2.To providenecessaryskipsto clearthe siteof the debrisand safetyhazards
(Estimate= minimum10 skipsbetweenJune-September 2010).
3. The advice of a Architect
Landscape duringthe designstage.
( J u l y2 0 1 0 ) .
4.Fo providethe servicesof an electricianto ensurethere are no safetyhazards
and to adviseon the possibilityof restoringpowerto the site
(June 2010).
5. Re connect and maintainwatersupplyto the site (June2010)
6. Removalor serviceof onsiteToilet.

Mr StephenPotter
SocialWorker

The SalvationArmy
CentenaryHouse
2 VictoriaStreet
Belfast,BT1 3GE
Stephen.potter@salvationa org.uk
rm)r.

2 Victorio
House,
Centenory Street BTl3GE
Belfost,