Grant Supports Stepway’s Veterans’ Community Garden Project
WCF’s Inclusive Communities Grant supported Stepway’s Community Garden pilot project working with the probation service and community pay back scheme.
Stepway is a military charity supporting all veterans and family members in civilian life. The project aims to break down barriers between veterans in the justice system and civilians through working in the Community Garden at HMP Hewell in Redditch. Participants are involved in a beekeeping project, mushroom farm, growing their own produce and woodwork with the aim of reducing re-offending and promoting inclusion upon release.
Veterans are working alongside volunteers from the Princes Trust and pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties from Riversides School on their Duke of Edinburgh Award as a crime prevention initiative. The resulting produce is donated to the Salvation Army who in part use it to cook meals for the homeless.
Three veterans have now left the project after completing their working hours. Two have gone into further education but still attend the project on a voluntary basis and, a third has gone on to find employment.
Stepway CEO, Dawn Turner said:
“The grant received to increase the Community Project Lead’s hours to run this inclusion programme has changed lives for the better. It has given people an alternative path away from crime. It has not only improved mental wellbeing but has saved lives too.”
To find out more about Stepway see their website https://www.stepway.org/.
