What was once an allotment-style garden with lots of plants and vegetables, has now been transformed into an open green area with floating flower beds, outdoor sofas and bird feeders that have attracted numerous wild birds.
Lisa Drummond-Pound, Support Worker at Hendra Lodge, said: “During lockdown there was nowhere for the young people to go because of the restrictions.
“The allotment-style garden was an option for them to hang out, but it wasn’t really inviting because of the layout and there was nowhere for them to sit.”
LiveWest runs 10 foyers across the South West which provide a safe place for young people without a home. Hendra Lodge offers supported accommodation for young people aged between 16 and 24 years.
The young people are supported with various life-skills such as budgeting, college applications, knowing how to get to places and finding employment; to help them lead independent lives in the future.
Lisa Drummond-Pound added: “All of our supported accommodation provides a safe place for the young people living there. Most of them come to us after facing different difficult challenges in their lives.
“We want our accommodation to not only be a safe refuge but also a place where our young people love to spend their free time. This was another reason for the garden transformation.”
Ciara, a Hendra Lodge resident, said: “I love how the garden has changed, it has made such a difference having the space to sit outside.
“During lockdown I really missed seeing wildlife. I spoke to Lisa, our support worker, and told her how I was feeling. So, she kindly positioned one of the bird feeders outside my bedroom window. Now I have beautiful chirpy visitors every day and I love seeing them all.”
LiveWest’s grants programme provides funding for initiatives that enhance community spaces that will benefit its customers and the broader community.
LiveWest Tenancy Sustainment Manager, Gia Hancock, said: “We recognised how an inviting and functional green space could benefit the physical and mental wellbeing of young people at Hendra Lodge. Especially during the challenging time we are facing with the pandemic.
“Their application for funding met the criteria for providing a sustainable community space that will be a lasting benefit for our customers and the community.
“We are really pleased to already be receiving positive reports about the benefit young people are reaping from the garden.”
Read more about our drive to reconnect our residents with nature here