A COMMUNITY ‘therapy’ garden that helps people with disabilities could see its hours slashed due to lack of funding.

Grozone, in Old Danes Nursery, Northwich, was launched in 2008 by Groundwork CLM.

The project, which is largely ran by volunteers, delivers a wide range of wellbeing and learning opportunities to people of all ages, abilities and disabilities.

Grozone receives referrals from a variety of partner organisations, including social services, Youth Offending Teams, Community Mental Health Teams and more.

Andy Martin, Grozone project manager, said: “The project started in 2008 with a community consultation process that showed that local people wanted to work with Groundwork to transform the abandoned local authority site into a community garden and place to meet, learn and relax.

“Since then more than 1,000 people have volunteered their time to help this transformation, receiving a wide range of ‘stealth therapy’ benefits in the process.”

In the last 18 months the project has been supported by by 450 volunteers.

Around 40 per cent of the current volunteers consider themselves to have a disability

Grozone is currently open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and alternate Saturdays Andy said that due to a current funding shortfall these opening times are no longer sustainable.

“A lot of people call it their second home,” Andy said. “It will mean an awful lot if that home is taken away from them.

“A lot of our volunteers and beneficiaries really rely on this place. They use it for contact, it gives them something meaningful, a purpose in life. It will have a big impact.”

Andy hopes that it does not come to that.

“I will feel like I have let a lot of people down,” he said. As the project manager it is my job to keep the place open.

“If I don’t do that I will feel pretty gutted and I will feel responsible even though it is not necessarily my fault.”

In the last nine months Grozone has supported 220 registered volunteers, totalling 2,143 attendances and with an estimated 8,572 volunteers hours.

Grozone receives referrals from a variety of partner organisations – including social services, Youth Offending Teams, Community Mental Health Teams, the Deafness Support Network, Turning Point, Addaction, job centres and many others.

The project has received funding from a number of bodies, including Groundwork Cheshire and Groundwork CLM and the The Big Lottery Fund.

Grozone has secured funding to remain open for two days a week but are seeking further funds.

To find out how to help call Andy on 07849 069573. Alternatively email andy.martin@groundwork.org.uk or visit grozone.org.uk