Two new allotments have been created in Sheffield as part of the NHS ‘Green Social Prescribing Places’ initiative thanks to Esh Construction, Sheffield Housing Company and YORhub teaming up to provide funding.
Working in partnership with SOAR Community in Sheffield, a regeneration charity that provides services to improve a person’s health, wellbeing and employability, the donation has funded allotments at Foxhill Medical Centre and Grenoside Medical Centre.
The NHS ‘Green Social Prescribing Places’ initiative allows GP’s, health and care practitioners, and local agencies, to refer people to nature-based interventions and activities, such as local walking for health schemes, community gardening and food-growing projects.
SOAR Wellbeing Coaches will manage the allotments and support individuals that are referred to the green prescribing spaces at each community centre. Each allotment features flower beds at accessible heights, pathways, lockable storage, soil, tools and young plants.
Megan Ohri from SOAR Partnership said: “Connecting with nature is such a great way to improve physical and mental wellbeing, in turn reducing stress and increasing physical activity. We’re grateful to Esh for supporting the development of these community gardens so that we can work with the GP surgeries to support more people via green social prescribing.”
Chris Stocks, Practice Manager at Grenoside Surgery, said: “Grenoside Surgery has a long-standing relationship with SOAR in their role as a provider of social prescribing to our patients. One of the areas that the surgery has been interested in is the concept of green prescribing which encourages patients with issues of social isolation to meet socially and undertake projects around gardening.
“We were therefore delighted when contacted by SOAR to hear that Esh, who are building new homes in our area, had this as one of their objectives and would be able to support a project at our main Grenoside site.
“The project centred on the building of two large, raised beds for the planting of plants and vegetables and enhanced access to enable wheelchair users the ability to access the garden from the rear of our car park. We look forward to the patients working in the garden as we approach spring and summer and will be delighted when the first produce is available.”
Community Health Partnerships (CHP), owned by the Department of Health and Social Care, is head tenant for 310 primary and community health care buildings across England including Foxhill Medical Centre. Simon McKinna, Community Health Partnerships (CHP) Operations and Relationships Manager at Foxhill Medical Centre said: “We worked with the GP team at Foxhill Medical Centre and SOAR to help set up the project, identify a suitable location with the building owners, facilitate hard landscaping deliveries and access arrangements. We’re pleased to see so many patients involved in the project and the positive impact it’s had on their health and wellbeing.”
A donation has also been made to Foxhill Medical Centre’s Art Group which has allowed the project to continue operating for another seven months after it became at risk of closure due to lack of funding. The ‘Art for Health Group’ supports people of all abilities and needs including people with mental or physical health issues and learning disabilities.
Esh Construction pledged the funding as part of its commitment to YORhub’s, YOR4Good Fund, a community grant initiative which supports economic regeneration projects through schemes awarded through the YORhub construction frameworks. The donations were made as part of the Lytton Road development, a 44-home project being delivered on behalf of Sheffield Housing Company, procured via the YORbuild2 framework.
Megan Roberts, social value manager at Esh Construction, said: “We are always striving to support organisations, charities and community groups that work within the local communities surrounding our construction projects. The two medical centres are located just one mile from our site which will allow us to leave a lasting legacy in the area. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Sheffield Housing Company and YORhub on yet another successful project, helping support great charities who make an important difference for people in need.”
We are always striving to support organisations, charities and community groups that work within the local communities surrounding our construction projects. The two medical centres are located just one mile from our site which will allow us to leave a lasting legacy in the area. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Sheffield Housing Company and YORhub on yet another successful project, helping support great charities who make an important difference for people in need.”
