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Celebrating Impact: Hands of Hope Releases Annual Impact Statement for 2023

Hands of Hope Impact Report 2023

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are thrilled to announce the release of Hands of Hope’s Annual Impact Statement for the year 2023. This document is a testament to the incredible journey we’ve embarked on together, the lives we’ve touched, and the communities we’ve transformed. As we eagerly share the fruits of our collective efforts, we invite you to join us in celebrating the impact we’ve made over the past year.

Gratitude: A Key Ingredient in our Success

None of these achievements would be possible without the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, and community partners. Your dedication and belief in our mission have propelled us forward, enabling us to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most. We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who has been a part of the Hands of Hope family.

Looking Ahead: A Future Filled with Hope

As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2023, we are also setting our sights on the future. Hands of Hope is committed to expanding our reach, refining our programs, and innovating to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve. With your continued support, we are confident that we can create an even more significant impact in the years to come.

Access the Full Impact Statement

For those eager to dive into the details of our accomplishments, challenges, and future plans, the complete 2023 Annual Impact Statement is available on our website.

We encourage you to explore the report and share in the joy of the positive changes we’ve made together.

Join Us in Celebrating Impact

We invite you to join us in celebrating the impact we’ve achieved together. Share your thoughts, stories, and reflections on social media using the hashtag #HandsOfHopeImpact2023. Together, we can inspire others to join our mission and contribute to building a world where hope and opportunity abound. Thank you for being a vital part of the Hands of Hope community. Your support is the driving force behind every success story, and we look forward to continuing this journey of transformation and empowerment with you by our side.

With gratitude,
The Trustees and Staff Team at Hands of Hope

Hands of Hope Impact Report 2023 - Cover Page

Impact Report 2023

Click to view our annual statement on the work of Hands of Hope.

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VACANCY: HEAD OF GROWING & GARDENING – SOCIAL, COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL & THERAPEUTIC

Harvesting Peppers at Hope Farm Community Garden

WE ARE RECRUITING A NEW, F/T HEAD OF GROWING & GARDENING – SOCIAL, COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL & THERAPEUTIC

Salary: £35,000 per annum – OTE £50,000

Location: Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst

In 2024, we will launch our new delivery model “GCSE: Growing, Cooking, Social & Skills and Environment”, enabling us to meet the ever-increasing demand for our provision, helping us increase our impact on local challenges, by providing nature-based activities to address rural isolation and loneliness, food insecurity and unhealthy diets, improving mental & physical health, and offering opportunities for skills and employability across Growing, Cooking, and the Environment. The “Growing” element will be fundamental to our success and the role will work closely with three new category leads for Cooking, Social & Skills and Environment.

This exciting position would suit an applicant who believes in the power of Growing, Cooking and Nature to improve wellbeing and who has the drive and desire to create a legacy space.

We are looking for an innovative and highly motivated individual, a self-starter who will grasp this unique opportunity and who will work closely alongside management team and Board of Trustees to devise, launch, and deliver an integrated suite of programmes and activities aimed at engaging and supporting a diverse range of beneficiaries and organisations as well as supporting new income channels and chargeable activities to sustain the charity longer-term.

TO APPLY:

Read the full Job Description: Head of Growing & Gardening – Social, Commercial, Educational and Therapeutic

To apply for this position please send a current CV to Mandy Doran, Trustee at info@hohcharity.co.uk with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role.

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Living History connects local school children with nature and living off the land

Living History connects local school children with nature and living off the land

Year 5 children from Cranbrook Primary School had a wonderful day connecting with nature at Hands Of Hope Charity UK with Project Rewild. They explored the walled garden then developed their knowledge of the historical importance of fire to humans in the beautiful woodland. The children then extended their firelighting and team-working skills with Luke. 

Their time in the meadow with Polly brought a deeper understand of the importance of plants and foraging. They identified meadow plants and discussed uses as food and medicines and then drank yarrow tea with the leaves they collected. The day finished with a wonderful session of painting using natural dyes.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Play Video about Living History connects local school children with nature
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Get Growing needs your vote!

Group asking people to vote for Get Growing in The People's projects

Hands of Hope’s ‘Get Growing’ programme has been shortlisted as 1 of the 5 regional finalists to receive National Lottery funding through The People’s Projects 2023 and WE NEED YOUR VOTE to help us win.

The People’s Projects gives the public a chance to vote for the projects they would like to see receive funding to improve the lives of people in their community.

We’ve asked for £54,540 so we can run Get Growing for the next year…

What is Get Growing?

Get Growing supports people throughout Rother, Hastings and West Kent – teaching them to grow their own food and helping communities to avoid food poverty – all supported by volunteers.
 
  • 28% of children in the local areas we support live in food poverty
  • Get Growing is supported by local people who give their time to volunteer – getting them outside, physically active, learning new skills and connected to each other

When the going gets tough, the tough Get Growing!

What will we achieve with the funding?

  • Through Get Growing, 20,000 people will receive FREE Grow Kits and support to grow their own food in whatever space they have
  • Organic fruit & veg will be delivered weekly to local food banks to help those in need

Your vote could help us secure vital funds needed to deliver this project.

How to vote

Voting for Get Growing takes just seconds and is so easy…

  1. Go to the Get Growing page on the dedicated The People’s Projects website.
  2. Click Start Voting and submit your details.
  3. Verify your vote – by text or email – depending on which option you choose. This is important as your vote won’t count without it.

Thank you so much for voting for us!

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Join us for a Herbal Medicine Workshop this Spring

Herbal Medicine Workshop - Spring 2023

Hope Farm Community Garden is hosting a morning workshop next week to discover and explore the medicinal properties of certain plants as they emerge from their winter sleep.

Running from 10am to 12 noon on Monday 15th May, local Medical Herbalist, Lindsey Glasheen, will lead us through the session and show us how to introduce the healing benefits of nature into our everyday lives.

TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP

Please contact Lindsey direct on lindseyglasheen.herbal@gmail.com

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Hands of Hope’s 2022 Impact Report published

Hands of Hope's 2022 Impact Report

Each year, as part of our governance and oversight, Hands of Hope trustees produce a report on the work of the charity and assess its impact to ensure we are carrying out our charitable purposes effectively and for public benefit.

This is documented in an annual statement which is made available to funders and supporters among others.

So we’re pleased to announce that our Impact Report for 2022 is now published and we’re excited to share it with you so you can see what we’ve been up to and how your valuable support makes a difference in the local community.

Thank you for your interest in Hands of Hope and we trust you’ll enjoy reading it.

Download our Impact Report 2022

Impact Report 2022

Click to view our annual statement on the work of Hands of Hope.

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We’re expanding and recruiting for a Head of Horticulture (full-time)

Head of Horticulture Required

Head of Horticulture (Social, Educational and Therapeutic) – Full Time, £28,000pa

LOCATION: Hope Farm Community Garden, Moor Hill, Hawkhurst, TN18 4QB
HOURS: Full Time
REPORTING TO: Hands of Hope Board of Trustees
RESPONSIBLE FOR: The Head of Horticulture will have overarching and day-to-day responsibility for managing Hands of Hope’s key social, educational, and therapeutic horticulture activities.

ROLE OUTLINE

Are you passionate about the health, wellbeing and social benefits of gardening, horticulture therapy and food growing?

We are seeking an experienced Head of Horticulture to develop and lead Hands of Hope’s key social, educational, and therapeutic horticulture activities.

Projects include the preservation and restoration of the heritage walled garden and glasshouses, two large greenhouses for extended community growing as well as several participatory programmes developed around heritage, nutrition, growing and the conservation of the natural environment.

This exciting position would suit an applicant that believes in the power of nature and nutrition to improves people’s physical and mental wellbeing and who has the drive and desire to create a legacy space linking the past, present, and future for the benefit of all.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

Hands of Hope are restoring & developing a neglected walled kitchen garden and 22 acres of AONB land in Hawkhurst, located on the Kent and East Sussex Border – “Hope Farm Community Garden”. Since securing planning in January 2019, we have been delivering programmes aimed at tackling food poverty, rural isolation and loneliness as well as improving mental, physical & environmental health for communities throughout Rother, Hastings, & West Kent.

Projects include Get Growing, Great British Brick Off (GBBO), Bee in Company, Helping Hands Lunch Clubs, Men in Sheds and Holiday Hunger; additionally, we offer, free, rural crafts training & Volunteering sessions aligned to horticulture and conservation. We have a no-dig, productive, organic, market garden, with Soil Association Accreditation & extended our growing capacity in 2021 to support our in-season Box Scheme, Hope Farm Organics.

From 2023, our charitable aims will include incorporating environmental and ecological protections, where feasible, in everything we do.

THE ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Head of Horticulture will have overarching and day-to-day responsibility for managing Hands of Hope’s key social, educational, and therapeutic horticulture activities. The role will require an individual with exceptional experience of organic growing & training with knowledge in the development of a market garden of scale, productivity, diversity, and beauty whilst adhering to organic methods.

The project(s) we are developing on site includes the preservation and restoration of the heritage walled garden and glasshouses, two large greenhouses for extended community growing as well as several participatory programmes developed around heritage, nutrition, growing and the conservation of the natural environment.
This exciting position would suit an applicant that believes in the power of nature and nutrition to improves people’s physical and mental wellbeing and who has the drive and desire to create a legacy space linking the past, present, and future for the benefit of all.

We are looking for someone who can work with a wide range of people from all backgrounds. Whilst not essential, knowledge of countryside management is also desirable.

Responsibilities will include:

  • Management of two productive growing areas
  • Management of multiple indoor growing spaces
  • Successful delivery of our social project Get Growing – teaching people in the region to grow their own food.
  • Creation & delivery of new projects in the subject areas of “field to fork”, horticulture and nature related wellbeing linked to the subject area. 
  • Creation, development & delivery of horticulture related programme content to a range of stakeholders from primary to adult learners. 
  • Creation, development & delivery of Social Therapeutic Horticulture activities including the relaunch of Growing Buddies
  • Co-management of new project(s) “Grow, Cook, Share” – Growing Together/Cooking Together and Food for the Future & GCSE “Growing, Cooking, Sustainability and the Environment”
  • Identifying opportunities to develop innovative new programmes to complement the existing education landscape both as commercial opportunities and those that match grant funding priorities, in particular Horticulture for secondary school pupils and post 16 learners, tackling the current skills deficit.
  • Maintaining effective administrative systems, policies, and procedures to provide an organised and efficient structure for the delivery of programmes. These systems will include: 
    1. Garden Sowing, Growing & Harvest Plan
    2. Timetables /programming 
    3. Booking systems 
    4. Attendance records
    5. Resource management and budget planning
    6. Evaluation of programme delivery
    7. Annual and funding report content
    8. Adherence to overarching strategic plan

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this role, please send your CV and an outline of your experience to Mandy Doran, Trustee: info@hohcharity.co.uk

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Christmas Dinner Hamper Appeal

Many households are impacted by the current financial crisis - Hands of Hope wants to help them.

2022 has been a challenging year for many of us due to the current economic crisis.

Hands of Hope wants to help by providing Christmas Food Hampers to local families who are struggling with the cost of living, as well as those dispossessed because of the war in Ukraine.

Each Hamper will include everything a family will need to cook a healthy and nutritious Christmas Dinner.

If you have everything you need but can help someone else, please donate to our Appeal.

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Seeking a Project Lead for Hawkhurst Shedders

Hands of Hope is hiring

HAWKHURST SHEDDERS PROJECT LEAD – PART TIME, circa £12.50ph

LOCATION: Hope Farm Community Garden, Moor Hill, Hawkhurst, TN18 4QB
HOURS: Part-time 8 hours per week
REPORTING TO: Hands of Hope Board of Trustees
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Leading on and delivering Men’s Shed/Crafty Shedders Project(s)

BACKGROUND

Hands of Hope is restoring & developing a neglected walled kitchen garden and 18 acres of AONB land in Hawkhurst, located on the Kent and East Sussex Border – “Hope Farm Community Garden” – whilst conserving the site’s natural heritage.

Since securing planning in January 2019, we have been delivering programmes aimed at tackling food poverty, rural isolation and loneliness as well as improving mental & physical health for communities throughout Rother, Hastings, & West Kent. Projects include Get Growing, Bee in Company, Helping Hands Lunch Clubs, Men in Sheds and Holiday Hunger; additionally, we offer, free, rural crafts training & Volunteering sessions. We have a productive, organic, market garden with Soil Association Accreditation & in July 2021 launched our box scheme, Hope Farm Organics.

Our current plans see us developing facilities on site that will support a thriving and inclusive community made up of Service Users, Volunteers, Service Providers, Corporate users, and commercial customers as well as continuing to expand the delivery of our outreach activities throughout Rother, Hastings, and West Kent.

We are relaunching Hawkhurst Shedders and are seeking a new project lead who will be involved from the outset, working with the Trustees and staff to ensure that the Shed becomes an integral part of Hope Farm Community Garden. This role would be ideal for someone who is recently retired and enjoys woodworking and wants to share their passion with others.

JOB PURPOSE

We are relaunching Hawkhurst Shedders and are seeking a new project lead who will be involved from the outset, working with the Trustees and staff to ensure that the Shed becomes an integral part of Hope Farm Community Garden. This role would be ideal for someone who is recently retired and enjoys woodworking and wants to share their passion with others.

MAIN DUTIES:

  • To work with the Trustees and HoH staff in relaunching Hawkhurst Shedders.
  • To actively promote the project and encourage older men & and women to participate in the project.
  • Working with HoH team, to use such methods as giving/arranging talks; social media; organising one-off promotional events; arranging “taster” sessions; contacting the local media (via the Marketing Trustee).
  • To recruit, train and support volunteers to help in the delivery of the project.
  • To co-ordinate a team of volunteers to continually develop the project as a place of recreation and social interaction.
  • To be responsible for Health & Safety for the project; undertaking risk assessments, etc; ensuring these activities are completed adequately, adhering to Health and Safety legislation.
  • To be responsible for the security of the building including opening the Shed, locking up at the end of the day and holding the keys.
  • To provide a comprehensive induction process for each new attendee, including a health and safety assessment for the use of any equipment.
  • To ensure that all volunteers, staff, and participants in the project adhere to all approved safety procedures.
  • To monitor all equipment on an on-going basis to ensure that sufficient equipment is available and is fit for purpose.
  • To develop short courses and learning activities for volunteers and participants in the project aligned to Hands of Hope’s wider delivery of nature-based activities including rural crafts e.g. green woodworking, Sussex Trug Making etc.
  • To develop a programme of activities for Members and encourage and facilitate them partaking in an activity of their choice. This includes daily management of the activities taking place in the sheds and of the conduct of all participants ensuring that a positive example is set by the coordinator.
  • To identify and network with local organisations, businesses, and other charities to ensure good links and relationships which support the project and Hands of Hope.
  • To act as a conduit of communication and information between Members attending the Shed and Hands of Hope, ensuring that a positive awareness of all services is maintained for the benefit of participants.
  • To ensure that up to date and accurate financial records are maintained including charging records, petty cash, and income generation receipts.
  • To undertake all other administrative tasks for the project as required.
  • Working with the Volunteer & Members Co-ordinator make sure all records about the work of the project are up to date, providing reports and statistics on a regular basis for evaluation anD monitoring purposes.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This role would be ideal for someone who:

  • Enjoys woodworking and wants to share their passion with others
  • Is outgoing and enjoys meeting and working with people
  • Wants to take on group projects which benefit the local community
  • Has strong organisational and leadership skills

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this freelance work supporting Hands of Hope, please send your CV and an outline of your experience to Mandy Doran, Trustee: info@hohcharity.co.uk

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Hands of Hope gets green light to connect communities to nature thanks to National Lottery players

Scott & Mandy picking runner beans

Environmental charity, Hands of Hope, are celebrating today after their project to improve the health and wellbeing of people and planet was given the green light after securing funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hands of Hope is a community charity that was set up in 2016 to deliver programmes and activities aimed at tackling rural isolation, loneliness, and food poverty. As well as this, they look to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of communities throughout Rother, Hastings, and west Kent by connecting them with nature and each other. Currently preserving Hope Farm Community Garden – a 22-acre AONB site with Soil Association Accreditation in Hawkhurst, located on the Kent and East Sussex Border – which is home to an Edwardian walled market garden, a heritage orchard, a small gill wood and two large wildflower meadows. 

Thanks to National Lottery players, Hands of Hope have been awarded a £165,000 grant by the Heritage Fund to deliver “The Living History Programme” a 2-year project that will engage with communities to uncover the hidden, but vibrant, natural, cultural and community heritage of Hope Farm Community Garden. Alongside this, £248,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund – the largest funder of community activity in the UK – will provide 3-years core funding to enable more people to access the benefits of growing, cooking, and connecting to nature.

The funding will:

  • Create employment opportunities supporting three new roles
  • Reconnect communities to nature and each other so they can better understand, learn about, and appreciate their local heritage
  • Increase the skills base amongst people by providing access to and training in organic food growing, environmental heritage & nature-based activities, heritage rural crafts and nutrition and cooking
  • Enable people to grow their own food and eat seasonally and locally, sharing their surplus and therefore reducing food waste whilst tackling food poverty
  • Improve accessibility to the site’s natural assets, ensuring everyone is included
  • Restore, maintain, and promote the natural, rural and community heritage of Hope Farm Community Garden, for future generations

The CPRE report 2021: Beauty Betrayed – the state of our AONBs cites those in the south east of England are under considerable and growing pressure from large scale housing development. Additionally, only 3% of Britain’s ancient meadows remain and Hope Farm Community Garden is unique, being home to two impressive wildflower meadows, providing an ecosystem that is fast disappearing as well as supporting a huge range of wildlife. The State of Nature 2019 (RSPB) report highlights the urgency of impacts of changes in agriculture, pollution, and climate in the last 50 years on our biodiversity and concludes that without conservation and action at a local level, our natural heritage will continue to erode until it is lost forever. 

James Doran, Founder and Chair of Hands of Hope, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding support thanks to National Lottery players. This is affirmation that our work is truly making a difference. By the end of the funding period, we will have transformed Hope Farm Community Garden into a beacon of how heritage, nature and horticulture can work together to create stronger, healthier, and better-informed communities who are more connected to the places where they live and to each other.”

Helen Bushell, Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, the South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We are proud to be supporting Hands of Hope to deliver this vital work, supporting communities to prosper and thrive. Thanks to National Lottery players, this will bring people together, where they can learn new skills and connect with nature, whilst reducing food waste and benefiting the environment.”

Stuart McLeod, Director England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Landscapes and nature form the bedrock of our culture and heritage, improving wellbeing, sparking curiosity, and protecting and providing for the community’s surrounding and inhabiting them. National Lottery players have highlighted natural heritage as especially important, which is why we are proud to award Hands of Hope a grant to reconnect the community to nature and showcase the importance of nature for health and wellbeing, all set within their unique landscape.”

The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund distribute money raised by National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.

Further information

For further information, images and interviews please contact Mandy Doran at Hands of Hope on 07968 333 097 or email info@hohcharity.co.uk

National Lottery Heritage Fund
National Lottery Heritage Fund
National Lottery Community Fund
National Lottery Community Fund