WCA NEWSLETTER No 166 November 2018 w

PLEASE HELP US TO PROVIDE THE FACILITIES
AND SERVICES YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS
Hands of Hope is a newly formed community-based charity operating in Rother, Hastings and West
Kent. Our aim is to reconnect people with where their food comes from, teaching them how to grow and
cook healthy, nutritious food and using this process to ultimately tackle some of the biggest health and social
issues facing us in the 21 st century including Childhood Obesity, Rural Isolation, Loneliness, Dementia and
Mental Health. Our aim is to improve health and well-being as well as community cohesion, whilst
protecting our environmental heritage.
We have recently acquired a derelict walled kitchen garden
and 18 adjoining acres in Hawkhurst, Kent, (see right) which
will be restored, regenerated & developed as an innovative
“Community Hub” for the whole region. This is an exciting
project that will produce organic fruit and vegetables within the
restored 2 acre walled kitchen garden and including a
Victorian Glass House, a Cooking School and Training room.
As well as a valuable education resource centre, the site will support community projects and workshops,
employment engagement activities, volunteering and community events.
This new facility will be:
A place to grow
A place to learn e.g. schools projects, growing programmes, cookery club,
workshops/events, sustainable gardening, healthy eating, etc
A place for nature e.g. wild areas, biodiversity, bees, pond, wildflower meadow
A place for children – Schools projects, nature play, forest school,
A place for specialist groups focusing on loneliness, mental health, dementia,
A place to access fresh affordable in season and organic produce
A place to feel connected e.g. welcoming, inclusive, a sense of community,
vibrancy and energy where there is always something happening
A place to connect with each other and with nature
A place that is sustainable offering a valuable legacy to future generations
A range of programmes and services will be developed following a period of consultation with local
communities. We will work in close collaboration with established organisations with a track record of
excellent provision and we envisage some of our priorities will be in tackling Childhood Obesity, Isolation /
Loneliness, Dementia and Mental Health and we are now reaching out to the communities of Rother,
Hastings and West Kent to obtain your views concerning the types of facilities and services you would like to
see at the site as well as your opinions regarding the most pressing current needs.
We are also interested in establishing links with Community & Voluntary Groups, Health & Social Care
Organisations, Schools, Parents, Corporate and Local Businesses who would be interested in contributing to
the consultation and perhaps involvement in our project.
We have designed a short survey that takes no longer than 10 minutes to complete and can be
accessed at: https://tinyurl.com/hoh-survey-1
The survey is completely anonymous and for those that prefer, we can send a hard copy in the post.
We are very keen to receive your views, opinions and suggestions and we would be delighted to
hear from you.
Please contact us directly at info@hohcharity.co.uk, to have your say or write to us at Hope Farm,
Tillingham Lane, Peasmarsh. TN31 6XG Reg Charity No: 1168016
Website: www.hohcharity.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/Handsofhopecharity
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