Press Release 24 Nov 2009

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A Sunderland community will be helping local residents to manage their own micro –allotments thanks to a £225,000 grant funded by Local Food, a new grants programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

The Pennywell Youth Project, who manage programmes that promote the environmental benefits of growing food locally, are one of the first organisations in the North East to receive funding from the £50 million Local Food Programme which will be funding food related community projects right across the country.

The ‘Veggie Park’ Programme’ will allow local residents to manage their own micro-allotments by providing the skills, resources and support needed to fully participate within their community. With this grant, the project will offer employment, training and education opportunities through volunteer workshops and mentoring schemes with guidance from gardening experts on how to cultivate land and use compost to grow organic fruit and vegetables.

Gordon Langley, Project Manager for the Pennywell Youth Project, said:

“Pennywell Youth Project is very pleased to be developing the Veggie Park programme, which will provide access to affordable, fresh fruit and vegetable facilities locally. The programme will also provide a range of opportunities where young people and the local community can learn new skills and support the economic development of the area.”

Mark Wheddon, Local Food Programme Manager said:

“It is projects like this that have a wide and lasting impact on the community and we are happy to support them. This project marks just the beginning in terms of Local Food grants. With a record £50 million to distribute to various groups we will begin to see a real change in the accessibility of local food.”

Local Food has been developed by a consortium of 15 national environmental organisations, and is managed on their behalf by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT). Supported by the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme, Local Food will distribute grants to a variety of food related projects to make locally grown food more accessible.

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