Member Article

Upcycling social enterprise in Peterborough set to bloom, following bursary cash boost

A not-for-profit social enterprise operating across Cambridgeshire has received a £1,000 cash boost from CALA Homes North Home Counties’ community bursary scheme.

‘Up the Garden Bath’ takes old and discarded bathtubs and restores them to create eye-catching, ready-made garden planters and accessories. These are then gifted to schools and other charities along with a ‘look and learn’ workshop to help fill the planters with flowers, plants or herbs and to educate residents about the importance of sustainability.

The funds received from CALA’s bursary scheme have been used to fund the restoration of four new bathtub planters sets, which will be gifted to four SEN schools, day nurseries, preschools, community centres or residential care homes in the area.

The planters will be designed to resemble giant insects and will be planted with an array of pollinator plants designed to encourage and enhance inner city wildlife. Where appropriate, the installations will also include an educational workshop which educates Peterborough residents about recycling, gardening, and sustainability.

Kez Hayes-Palmer, the organisation’s co-founder, says that the bursary has come at an important time:

“We launched a little over a year ago, and most of that time has been spent in lockdown. As a result, we’re really delighted with the support we’ve received from CALA Homes; to be able to get out and start working with the community again.

“We’re doing our little bit by taking in baths and donations of unwanted wood. Everyone should be recycling, thinking about the environment, and reducing waste and landfill - as a result, we hope our bath planters will serve as a fitting reminder as to the importance of sustainability and our surroundings.”

The organisation formed part of six good causes across the Northern Home Counties which received a share of £20,000 - a much-needed boost from CALA to support their vital work.

The Community Bursary initiative invites charities, voluntary organisations and community groups to apply for a share of funding from CALA, with more than 300 worthy causes now having received over £300,000 since CALA launched the initiative in 2016.

The local organisations receiving a share of the fund in Cambridgeshire included:

• Magpas Air Ambulance
• St Ives Town & Warboys Cricket Club
• Little Miracles Charitable Incorporated Organisation
• Soham Town Rangers Youth FC
• Linton CE Infant School

Glenn Copper, Sales & Marketing Director, said: “The last 12 months have been particularly hard for the charity and volunteering sectors, with many seeing reduced funding at a time when local communities need their services most.

“CALA aims to make a positive and lasting contribution to the communities in which we build and that’s more important now than ever. We know that this year’s Bursary will mean a great deal to Up the Garden Bath - and the other organisations selected - and we can’t wait to follow their progress and see how the donations will make a real difference to local people.

“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to apply to the CALA Community Bursary this year and congratulate each and every one of them on the fantastic work they are doing within their communities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CALA Homes .