What is the Active Gardening Exchange Scheme?
Maintaining a garden can become difficult in later life and that can be the beginning of a road that leads from independent living into a care home. Houses with overgrown gardens can signal vulnerability and therefore be more likely to be burgled. The Active Gardens Exchange Scheme in Bury provides an innovative solution to the problem. The scheme matches up older people who need a gardening service with local people who would benefit from taking more exercise in a social setting with other volunteer scheme gardeners.
AGES has been running for over 6 months funded by Bury PCT and is soon to be extended with additional funding through Age of Opportunities. Those who have registered as scheme gardeners are local people who are unable to work, are keen to get out of the house to help others or are dealing with mental health conditions. The scheme benefits those who simply want to improve their general health through being more active.
Hannah Williams, Project Officer at Groundwork Bury, watched how effective the scheme was at enabling volunteers to meet others and learn new skills: "I've been delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm of the team, particularly earlier in the year during the winter season"; she said, "We've seen volunteers gaining in confidence and moving on from the scheme to other commitments"
Residents who need help with their gardens are referred to the scheme by Bury's Adult Care Services Team, local housing associations and organisations providing community support.
One local resident who has benefited greatly from the scheme is 81 year-old Cliff Hall. Mr Hall had found it difficult to maintain his large garden following treatment for prostate cancer.
"The garden was rapidly becoming a wilderness. The scheme had a transforming effect"; said Mr Hall. "This scheme has benefited me greatly and I'm looking forward to having a visit again. It's an excellent service and many others could benefit from it";
The scheme is a good example of the type of creative thinking that will be necessary if we're to encourage physical activity amongst people who may not be able to be able to afford to visit a gym and may find such types of indoor workouts intimidating. Many of the scheme gardeners are attracted by the idea of doing gardening in a social setting, rather than by exercise, and this approach to increasing physical activity may be crucial in developing healthier communities.
Contact:
For further information or to register with the scheme as a scheme gardener or for support please contact Sarah Jane Tarn, AGES Project Officer on 0161 762 2650.
Mail: Groundwork Bury,
Acorn Business Centre,
Fountain Street North,
Bury,
BL9 7AN.
