The Calthorpe Project is a 1.2 acre garden oasis on Grays Inn Rd nestled between Eastman’s Dental Hospital, Westminster Kingsway College and Camden Housing estates.  We are a registered charity providing a range of services and facilities for 2000 people annually and receiving a further 30,000 garden visits. 

Camden Council has financially supported us for 30 years but due to Government cuts they are no longer in a position to do so.  We therefore need to raise £80,000 to keep our project afloat so we can continue to support service users for the next year. 

As part of the solution to raising the funds we need, the Calthorpe Project is seeking support from 10 London companies to help our community garden project.  For a minimum contribution of £4000 per year we will be able to do the following:

• Keep our garden open for the whole community
• Support vulnerable families with young children
• Support adults with learning difficulties and mental health issues
• Give children access to nature and the chance to explore and discover
• Give people access to open space who don’t have their own garden

Benefits to you include:

• Exclusive use of our garden and community building for a summer event
• Access to volunteering opportunities either as a 1 off team building event or ongoing opportunities working alongside community members and volunteers
• Publicity on our website, newsletter and other publications
• Case studies to show how your support is making a difference to people’s lives
• The opportunity to get involved in a local project producing valuable ties between your company and the local community
• Improvement in staff motivation and morale

The services we specialise in:

• Volunteering and Training – We had 50 regular volunteers and trainees registered last year helping to maintain the garden. We work with a number of volunteers who receive 1-1 support who have mental health issues and learning disabilities. 
• Children’s Play Programme–Kings Cross has the highest number of children aged under 16 in Camden.  Our weekend and holiday provision improves safety by offering children positive activities. We currently have 209 children registered.
• Early Years Programme – Our under 5′s drop in is open 4 days per week including Saturdays.  We currently have 142 families registered, 60% of whom are from ethnic minorities and are low-income families.
• Food Growing and Healthy Eating – We offer allotment space to approximately 40 people, including a Bengali Women’s Group and Latin American Older People’s Group promoting composting, recycling and organic methods.
• Sports Development – We have programmes for children and young people to help develop skills, find employment and provide a positive alternative to anti social behaviour.

What’s special about our project?                              

• We offer a range of activities for local people focused around our community garden
• We bring the whole of the community together- people of all backgrounds, races and religions and of all ages and circumstances
• We provide a ‘home’ for those in the inner city who may have no supportive and stable home life
• We offer a caring and non judgemental environment, distinctly different from other more formalised youth and child services
• We help to provide respite from cramped housing, the isolation of unsupported parenting, and a positive alternative to gangs, drugs and violence

Who we help?

• Local ethnic minority communities                                                     
• Mums and dads, in particular: young parents and single parents
• Children, of all ages
• Young people including those who have been involved in crime

Benefits to the local community

• Helping to keep local teenagers off the streets and away from gangs and drugs
• Getting kids ‘early’ with a range of stimulating activities such as gardening and sport
• Helping give more support to parents means happier and more well balanced kids
• Helping everyone locally to feel part of a community, not isolated

What our users say about us

“It’s very cramped at home, as we live in a one bed, coming here is a godsend” local parent

“I’ve been coming here since I was three and really miss it when I don’t come. I come mostly to use the pitch. I was spotted here for my football skills, now I play for Brentford” Kris aged 10

“ I moved into Kings Cross due to leaving a relationship with my son’s dad where I experienced sever domestic violence.  Being able to access Calthorpe has helped me to find my place in the community and find out about other under fives activities available.  The people here at Calthorpe are so friendly and welcoming I was happy to come back.  I have also been able to start some courses here that I wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.” Local parent.

For further details please phone 020 7837 8019 and speak to Louise Gates.