Tyfu Pobol - Growing People
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 8:56AM Forwarded press release from Katie Jones, the driving force behind FCFCG in Wales:
A new programme to help people set up and manage growing schemes in the heart of their community has been launched across Wales by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG).
Called Tyfu Pobl (Growing People), is funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is itself funded by the Welsh Government and the European Union. The three year programme will support a variety of schemes, including community farms, allotments, community gardens, community orchards and Community Supported Agriculture schemes. It is a direct result of booming interest in community food growing and creating natural green spaces.
The Welsh Government-funded programme will ensure that community groups don’t work in isolation – local people will be encouraged to share their knowledge and expertise so that connections between new and well-established growing schemes are created throughout Wales.
A new development team is already in place, with regional offices in Cardiff, Pembrokeshire, Newtown and Bangor (contact details below). Meanwhile a Community Enterprise and Funding Coordinator to help combat the withering effects of the current funding climate by accessing funding sources and working with groups so they become more financially sustainable and less grant reliant.
As part of the programme, local growing groups will benefit from support and advice from the development team as well as fieldworkers drawn from existing groups and allotments mentors. A travel bursary scheme will also be available so groups can visit each other’s sites and regional meetings to enable local growers and gardeners to meet up, learn new skills and swap ideas and inspiration.
An official launch event takes place on 23-24 September at Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran, which will kick off the new autumn programme of regional gatherings and training events. Training will be delivered around 4 main areas; sustainability, social inclusion, the setting up of a community growing project and the creation of community growing spaces for land owners.
Introducing the new Tyfu Pobl Development Team
South East Wales (Cardiff) Office Tel: 0292 0225942
Katie Jones (Development Manager): 07793 669 721; katie@farmgarden.org.uk
Emma Williams (South East Wales Development Worker): 07786 880119; emma@farmgarden.org.uk
Tim Atkinson (Community Enterprise & Funding Co-ordinator):07755 7004608; tim@farmgarden.org.uk
Abby Charles (Wales Administrator): abigail@farmgarden.org.uk
South West Wales Office Tel: 01834 869927
Rupert Dunn (SW Wales Development Worker): 07787 773437; rupert@farmgarden.org.uk
Unit 1A, The Old School, Station Road, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 7DU.
Mid Wales Office Tel: 01686 946235
Gary Mitchell (Mid Wales Development Worker) 07866 802737; gary@farmgarden.org.uk
Cwm Harry Land Trust, Unit H, Vastre Industrial Estate, Newtown, Powys SY16 1DZ.
North Wales Office Tel: 01248 208630
Sarah Collick (North Wales Development Worker) 07910 498762; sarah@farmgarden.org.uk
Ty Gwydr / Greenhouse, 1 Trevelyan Terrace, High Street, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 1AX.
Allotments, Wales, food 