Cathja, Disability Network Hounslow, Kids Cookery School, Speak Out in Hounslow, Hounslow Community Foodbox
Funded by
LB Hounslow
Year
2015 – 2016
Location
Brentford and Syon
Brief
Well Brentford and Syon aimed to activate and connect the local community. We worked closely with organisations providing services to people with particular challenges – such as people in financial hardship, people with enduring mental health issues, and people with disabilities to:
- Understand their aspirations
- Help them develop new skills, knowledge and confidence
- Capacity build and support them to share this with the wider community
London Sustainability Exchange led 16 specialist training sessions for local groups such as; woodworking skills, preserving, enterprise training and a Dragon’s Den, gardening, community coffee events, creating a Healthy Cooking DVD accessible to adults with learning difficulties which has been shared widely, an asset mapping exercise and a CV writing skill sharing session.
As a result, participants have gained skills and confidence to contribute towards wellbeing, resilience and healthy lifestyles. We also established gardens and social enterprises to act as catalysts for continued growth of social capital and well-being in the area, ensuring we have a lasting impact on communities. Disability Network Hounslow are continuing to run their community garden, with weekly gardening sessions. DNH have been able to deepen their outreach and expand their services, for example by sharing produce for community lunch events and running food preserving sessions.
Achievement
2 social enterprises, 2 gardens and 1 innovate project initiative started
15 training sessions held, 1 Dragons Den event & 1 Project Celebration Dinner
52 community led events held
9 tonnes/yr approximate carbon savings
£22,000 /yr approximate financial savings