Lancashire Collaborative Ministry

 PAYBACK PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYEMENT AND FOOD SECURITY 

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BACKGROUND

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Increasing demand for surplus food due to the cost of living crisis, together with improved  supermarket efficiencies and labour shortages are all reducing the  food supplies available to food banks and community pantries, so many are now seeking new sources of  fresh food and new  income streams  to bulk-buy non-surplus food to supplement the dwindling supplies of surplus food available to them.

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Padiham Community Garden Project aims to meet this need by working with the Probation Service to grow seasonal fruit, veg and salads in the grounds of Padiham Unitarian Chapel and donate it to food banks across Burnley whilst also raising funds for the food banks to bulk buy non-surplus food supplies wholesale.

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THE PROJECT

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• To provide opportunities for women and male offenders subject to Unpaid Work Requirements (Community Payback) to grow seasonal fruit, veg and salads for donation to food banks across Burnley under the supervision of the Probation Service.

• To provide opportunities for offenders on Community Payback to grow commercial cash crops and produce other food-related products and services, the profits from the sale of which will be donated to food banks to help them bulk-buy non-surplus food supplies wholesale.

• To provide training in horticulture and hospitality for offenders on Community Payback.

• To provide qualifications and certificates of achievement that will build self confidence and routes to employment.

• To develop pathways into employment and self employment in the hospitality and wider food sector for offenders on Community Payback.

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PROJECT DELIVERY

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PARTNERS

Community Payback/Probation:

From Stephanie Baxter, UPW Operations Manager – East and Central Lancashire, “As discussed Community Payback would be keen to be involved in the project from the start, getting the site ready, installing the fence and then creating the garden/growing areas and then continuing to work on the project going forward. We are able to offer a long term commitment to this project.

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I feel that this is a unique project for us in the area that meets a number of our delivery aims and aspirations. Not only is this a great project to meet the Community Payback criteria -Community focused, rigorous and demanding- it also offers wide opportunities for learning and skill development. Also, the potential opportunities for our People on Probation to gain qualifications in horticulture and food hygiene are a key factor. The development if team building skills and community integration are also prevalent in the project, which again allow us to meet our ultimate aim of rehabilitation.

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We also discussed the real potential for us to offer women only Community payback sessions which is crucial in terms of our provisions for women in the area.

 

BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE COMMUNITY

• have agreed to be the ‘accountable body’ for funding of the project

• have agreed to lead on acquiring funding for the project

• are the largest food bank provider in Burnley and are keen for donations of fresh seasonal fruit, veg  and salads from the project

• have co-produced the Burnley Food Poverty Strategy with Burnley Council.

• together with Burnley Council are setting up ‘Burnley Community Grocery’ a food cooperative with membership open to all Burnley residents, supplying surplus and discounted non-surplus food to its members to provide a route out of food poverty, eventually ending the need for food bank emergency food-aid provision in the first place.

• have agreed in principle for the project to donate fresh seasonal fruit, veg and salads to the Grocery and raise funds for its wholesale non-surplus food provision through the project’s commercial activities.

• have a fully equipped Teaching Kitchen they wish to donate to the project

 

PRELIMINARY WORK: ALL UNDERTAKEN BY PROBATION-SUPERVISED COMMUNITY PAYBACK WORKERS

• Make good the steps

• Fencing to block access to the river

• Install full perimeter security fencing

• Landscaping 

• Raised beds for growing vegetables for the Community Payback growing area.

• Secure customers (e.g. Food Banks, community groups engaged in distributing food) to receive a free food supply within the wider Burnley area.

• Develop full cash crop business plan