Food-growing projects across Galway are being invited to apply for funding under the GIY Get Ireland Growing Fund.
The fund, organised by Grow It Yourself in partnership with AIB, aims to encourage community and voluntary groups to develop food growing projects around Ireland over three years. Grants of between €500 and €5,000 are available under the initiative.
Six Galway projects received grants from the fund last year, including Cope Galway which runs a community garden to provide training and growing activities for its residents.
“The community garden is one example of an initiative that residents take part in and ownership of,” said project manager Claire Kelly. “On a daily basis we see the benefits that the garden has for our residents during their stay at the project, including reduced isolation, peer support, and a meaningful use of time. It has also had a positive impact on the volunteers who support the project and the wider community in many ways, including reducing the stigma associated with being homeless.”
According to Mícheál Ó Cadhla of GIY, the GIY movement offers many benefits for participants, aside from a supply of fresh home-grown food. “More and more communities are recognising the value of gardening and food-growing, whether in school gardens, community gardens, or therapeutic gardens,” he said. “When children learn where their food comes from, they change their attitudes, and this is essential as we face growing levels of obesity and related health issues. With the help of AIB, we are delighted to be able to provide funding to groups tackling this important issue in their communities.”
The closing date for applications is April 30. Visit www.giyireland.com to submit an application.
