Social Farms and Gardens

SC039440

CONTACT DETAILS

c/o Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road, EDINBURGH, EH11 2LA
0131 623 7058
scotland@farmgarden.org.uk
LOCALITY
South West

information DESCRIPTION

Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens

We help communities to grow.

We give a national voice to a movement of local groups.

Our expertise means community growers can survive and thrive.

From tiny community gardens to sprawling city farms, FCFCG helps grass roots groups create genuine benefits for their community. And in turn, we are constantly inspired and amazed by the people and the places that we support.

Since FCFCG was born back in 1980, we have worked with community farms and gardens, school farms, care farms, wildlife and roof gardens, community orchards, community-run allotments and community-supported agriculture schemes.

We have helped bring community growing into the mainstream, been at the centre of the rise in local food growing and picked up many supporters along the way, including our Patron HRH The Prince of Wales.

Today we have a team of expert development workers across the UK who deliver guidance, training and encouragement direct to our members.

From our head office in Bristol we work with Government, funders and big corporations, letting those in power know about the great work our members do.

We directly support around 500 member groups (as well as giving indirect support to hundreds more). And very occasionally we even get a chance to go outdoors and get our hands dirty too!

Whom do we support?

We support anyone who gets together with others in their neighbourhood to create and nurture a green space for the benefit of their community.

Growing Communities - Get Inspired:

We guide, inspire, advise, showcase and represent hundreds of community-growing groups right across the UK.

We love giving practical support like site visits, training courses and networking events. If our members want guidance on important areas like employment issues, or governance training, or site design, or if they simply want to know the best way to build a raised veg bed, we are there to help.

Then there’s the other useful stuff we do, like our online information resources or spreading the word about our members' inspirational success, as well as providing e-newsletters and social media updates full of useful items.

We advocate on behalf of our members with regional, national and international bodies, ensuring their issues and needs are under the eyes - and on the minds - of decision makers. And working in partnership with other organisations means we can take positive action on crucial issues. Partnership working also allows us to help members bring further benefits to their local communities.

We also offer services to any other organisation running a community farm or garden (for example local authorities, schools, trusts, hospitals, housing associations and public buildings).

Our work helps:

- 200 city and school farms.
- 1,000 community gardens.
- 200 city farms and community gardens in development.

Between them our members employ around 550 people, engage and empower thousands of volunteers and attract over three million visitors each year. Their estimated combined annual turnover is £40 million.

FCFCG Scotland:

We have had an office in Scotland since 2005 and we've done a lot of work with the inspiring and innovative community-growing movement here. We have also worked closely with the Scottish Government and forged close partnerships with other Scottish organisations. If you want to find out more, or join in, or even set up your own community garden in Scotland you have come to the right place.

ORGANISATION ACTIVITIES

Advice/Information Community Development Community Facilities Education/Learning/Training Environment/Recycling Fundraising/Funding Health Self Help/Support

Copyright © 2024 EVOC is a company limited by guarantee No. SC173582 and is registered Scottish charity No. SC009944.
Registered Office: 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2FF