With each charity visit we are always humbled and touched by the people they serve but never surprised by the sense of community, love and warmth that greets us.
The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden was no exception. Tucked away behind the station to the northeast of the city of Brighton, in an area of high deprivation, the garden is a thriving haven of activity and growth. Overlooked at the head of the plot by a beautifully created large wooden cabin and kitchen area, the Foundation team were treated to a morning with Warren Carter, founder and project manager, to understand more about this brilliant charity and the work they are doing for the community.
Pictured bottom left: Warren Warren Carter, founder and project manager.
What started as an allotment in 1994 by a group of friends, it became a registered charity in 2005, and 30 years on it’s changing the lives of so many people by connecting them through gardening, food and nature in a variety of ways.
For primary and secondary schools, the charity offers an alternative environment for pupils who struggle in a typical classroom setting. Providing outdoor education and therapeutic support tailored for Key Stages 3 and 4 pupils in the Brighton and Hove area, their offerings include eco-therapy and outdoor education, designed to enhance the school curriculum. They specialise in assisting young people with learning difficulties such as Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia, and ADHD.
The project emphasises inclusivity and diversity, inviting participation from people with all abilities on its Tuesday and Friday workdays. Through collaboration with local schools, social services, pupil referral units, and youth services, young individuals are supported in advancing within mainstream education and realising their maximum capabilities.
As a governor at Moulsecoomb Primary and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, Warren deeply understands the invaluable role the garden plays. Similarly, as Chair of the Bevy community pub, he appreciates the significance of providing individuals with a sense of purpose.
Our grant for their new kitchen and seating area has enabled Warren and his team to provide hot food (utilising produce from the garden), cooked outside for the workers and volunteers, plus landscaping around the plot to help ease of access (the site is on a hill).
In truth we were blown away by this beautiful plot and the camaraderie of the team that welcomed us.
If you’d like to know more about the garden or can support the charity in some way – visit their website for all the info you need.
Focus Foundation provided a grant of £3,500 to Moulsecoomb Forest Garden.
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