Ben Cleuch Polytunnel Project Impact Story

The polytunnel gardening group at the Ben Cleuch Centre is part of the ‘Staying Connected’ wellbeing project which is facilitated by The Education Refugee Team. The Council’s Education Refugee Team is made up of staff from several Education Teams, who come together collectively to support New Scots settlingin Clackmannanshire; in a holistic, needs led approach.

Participants of the group attend the Community Centre for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes in the morning and then remain at the Ben Cleuch for lunch. In the afternoon the learners have the opportunity to take part in various wellbeing activities including craft, cookery and gardening. The ‘Staying Connected’ groups run twice per week and include individuals from Ukraine, Syria, Pakistan and Bulgaria.

The work done to restore and develop the use of the polytunnel is enhancing the wellbeing of all involved. The group have grown a lot of different types of vegetables and herbs including tomatoes, peppers, radishes, lettuce, courgettes, chard, marjoram, for their lunches. The courgette soup they made was a particular favourite.

I like the polytunnel, it reminds me of my garden at home in Ukraine and the outside life. We
don’t have gardens here in social housing. I lived in the countryside with my mother and
grandmother who loved gardening. 

Group member

It is great to take the children into it ... they think vegetables come from ASDA so they could see how things grow from small plants into vegetables we can eat. It is a good education for
them. 

Group member
It has been good growing the vegetables for our lunch together and to cook soup.

Group member
Stevie has been encouraging some older refugee males to get involved in the project: They became involved recently. I met one through the Men’s Shed, he is in his 70’s and cycles here from Dollar. We designed and erected wooden frames inside the polytunnel to better support the runner beans we are growing just now and the tomatoes and other stuff in the new season. Others also cleared out the raised bed next to the polytunnel and planted bulbs that are coming through now and they are keen to get started on the other one across the yard.

And we are in the process of trying to source transport for a wheelchair user whose profession back in Ukraine was a garden designer. It would be good to have him involved. The polytunnel helps them connect and build relationships with the local community too. We encourage groups in the local community to come in and access the Polytunnel. There are plenty of vegetables that can be used by more than just our group. 

ERT team member
We had a few problems with vandalism to the Polytunnel to begin with, but since explaining what the project is for and who it benefits, this has stopped. 

ERT team member
The polytunnel is one of the many interests that binds the groups together. They have taken part in a wide range of other activities too including dancing, attendingthe Ukrainian Club in Dundee, a first aid course (all now have certificates), boxing and much more.

Learners have been aEending ESOL classes at the Ben Cleuch Centre for a significant period of time and have built strong trusting relationships with Education staff. As well as learning English, it has been evident that learners also required wellbeing support.
 

It was hard moving here, having to leave family behind in danger in Ukraine, but we wanted
our children to be safe. It is so different, and learning English is helping us to understand how things work here, who to go to for the help we need. Some can’t speak any English and are stuck inside their homes. We get a lot of support here (at the group) it is like family, and we can talk about our worries and trauma too when we need to. 

Group member

We have been able to provide practical support too ... we helped one of the women move on from her host family into to her own place and were able to get her bits of furniture and household goods. 

ERT team
There is a lot of concern about the future at the moment, about the pressures on Public Services and indeed the Ben Cleuch Centre itself.We are worried about the future. We rely on meeting together and supporting each other and hope this can continue. 

Group member
The team hope that they can expand the approach:
Going forward in an ideal world it would be lovely to see the groups grow and develop. We would love to invite other groups within the community to come and share their knowledge and experience with us. This would help to develop integration between the different cultures and would be a learning experience for all involved. However, there may be staffing changes over the coming year and we need to confirm what access we will have to the building 

ERT staff member