This winter we’re asking supporters to Unwrap the Joy for refugees and asylum seekers – that’s people like Bim, who has found joy through gardening thanks to a unique volunteering project run by Action Foundation
Joy, for Bim, comes in the form of gardening.
In her home country of Nigeria she was never a gardener but since coming to Action Foundation, she has discovered just how much planting a seed and watching it grow can improve her mental health.
She says:
“It settles me, it brings me joy. Yeah, it lifts my soul. Sometimes, when I’m down and I remember that I go to the garden for volunteering, I throw it off.”
NECA Community Garden was the first organisation in South Tyneside to partner with us when we were looking for projects to provide volunteering opportunities for our clients.
Watch Bim at work in the NECA garden: Video
The work we do with NECA and a range of other charities aims to tackle loneliness and isolation and is made possible by the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland through the Department for Culture Media and Sport Know Your Neighbourhood Fund.
Bim is able to bring her children to the garden for holiday activities. She says: “They always asking me, ‘Mummy when next we will we be on the holidays? When are we next going to the garden?’ and they love playing with the chickens here.”
Christmas in the garden
During the festive season, Bim and other volunteers at the garden have been making wooden Christmas trees in the woodworking section.
“We take home the things we help grow, sometimes onions, cucumber, cabbages. When I’m going home, you will see Dave (who manages the garden) give me eggs from the chickens.”
Bim gets her sewing certificate
As well learning new skills in the garden, Bim and fellow refugees have been learning to sew thanks to Action Foundation setting up a beginners’ sewing club with South Shields business, Quirkiness with Debs.
“Debs creates a warm and welcoming space and is so patient with us all,” Bim says.
As if gardening and sewing weren’t enough, Bim has also learned to ride a bike – thanks to our link up with a local cycling project.
The volunteering activities are all coordinated by Action Foundation’s Social Inclusion Officer, Abdul Rahim.
Bim adds: “Abdul Rahim listens, he always listens. He makes you feel important, makes you feel that you are somebody.”
