Autumn 2025 – Growing Communities: Taste, Grow, Cook, Create
The Growing Communities Project has already completed three successful seasons — Winter, Spring, and Summer — positively impacting over 300 people. With creativity at our core, we’ve removed barriers to participation, delivering sessions for all ages — from 0 to 104 years.Thanks to funding from the National Lottery, this fully funded programme continues through to September 2026.
Each organisation is visited four times per season, with a different focus each week:
Themes
- Week 1 – Taste: Discover and sample seasonal produce
- Week 2 – Grow: Learn hands-on gardening skills
- Week 3 – Cook: Create healthy, seasonal dishes together
- Week 4 – Create: Take part in seasonal arts or crafts activities
Group 1
Starts w/b 15 September 2025 — visits every other week: 15 Sept → 29 Sept → 13 Oct → (skip 27 Oct) → 10 Nov
Week 1 – Taste (w/b 15 Sept)
- Wed 17 Sept – MHA Burntwood | SPARK Burntwood 11.15AM (Drop-In) | Little Aston Primary School
- Thu 18 Sept – Boley Park Preschool | Lichfield Family Hub 1PM (Drop-In)
Week 2 – Grow (w/b 29 Sept)
- Wed 1 Oct – MHA Burntwood | SPARK Burntwood 11.15AM (Drop-In) | Little Aston Primary School
- Thu 2 Oct – Boley Park Preschool | Family Hub 1PM (Drop-In)
Week 3 – Cook (w/b 13 Oct)
- Wed 15 Oct –MHA Burntwood | SPARK Burntwood 11.15AM (Drop-In) | Little Aston Primary School
- Thu 16 Oct – Boley Park Preschool | Family Hub 1PM (Drop-In)
Week 4 – Create (w/b 10 Nov)
- Wed 12 Nov – MHA Burntwood | SPARK Burntwood 11.15AM (Drop-In) | Little Aston Primary School
- Thu 13 Nov – Boley Park Preschool | Family Hub 1PM (Drop-In)
Group 2
Starts w/b 22 September 2025 — visits every other week: 22 Sept → 6 Oct → 20 Oct → (skip 27 Oct) → 17 Nov
Week 1 – Taste (w/b 22 Sept)
- Wed 24 Sept – Liberty Jamboree | Scotch Orchard | Barchester Retirement Home: The Spires Lichfield
- Thu 25 Sept – Aston Court Care Home | Burntwood Be A Friend 12.15pm (Drop-In)
Week 2 – Grow (w/b 6 Oct)
- Wed 8 Oct – Liberty Jamboree | Scotch Orchard | Barchester Retirement Home: The Spires Lichfield
- Thu 9 Oct – Aston Court Care Home | Burntwood Be A Friend 12.15pm (Drop-In)
Week 3 – Cook (w/b 20 Oct)
- Wed 22 Oct – Liberty Jamboree | Scotch Orchard | Barchester Retirement Home: The Spires Lichfield
- Thu 23 Oct – Aston Court Care Home | Burntwood Be A Friend 12.15pm (Drop-In)
Week 4 – Create (w/b 17 Nov)
- Wed 19 Nov – Liberty Jamboree | Scotch Orchard | Barchester Retirement Home: The Spires Lichfield
- Thu 20 Nov – Aston Court Care Home | Burntwood Be A Friend 12.15pm (Drop-In)
What to expect
- Fun, inclusive and creative activities
- Gardening and cooking workshops
- Skill-sharing for sustainable living
- Creating and unlocking green spaces
- Opportunities for social connection and well-being
Benefits
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- Improved well-being for participants
- Stronger community connections
- Development of lifelong skills
- Support for sustainable living practices
