On 1 July, 30 service users from local drug and alcohol, and mental health projects in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, attended a community gardening open day organised by Westminster Drug Project and the Community Support team for East Hertfordshire. The idea for the open day was inspired by a Springboard customer. Springboard is part of Genesis Housing Group.

The aim of the open day was to encourage service users from the various agencies to enjoy the health and social benefits of taking part in a gardening project enjoyed by other service users at Wormley Allotments in Broxbourne.

The idea for the open day grew from a suggestion made by Stephen Doran, a customer at Springboard's Eleanor Cross Road supported housing scheme in Broxbourne. It was made at a meeting held to review a nine-month community gardening project organised by the Westminster Drug Project, East Hertfordshire's Community Support Team and the Holly Lodge Community mental health team in Cheshunt last year.

Stephen Doran, one of six Springboard customers participating in the project, suggested that, the scheme should be expanded to include more people. They regularly met at the gardens of Cheshunt's Community Mental Health Team headquarters at Church Lane where they grew fruit and vegetables together during this period.

Six customers from two of Springboard's special needs schemes in Broxbourne - Eleanor Cross Road and Brickendon Lane - manage the two plots which divide into 20 pitches. The plots are paid for by the Westminster Drug Project and East Hertfordshire Community Support Team.

Dean Salmon, a Springboard resident involved in the project said of the open day: "It was a very enjoyable day - and an eye opener".

Steve Risk, a Senior Support Worker at Springboard, and a Practitioner for Westminster Drug Project, said "The turnout for the open day exceeded all our expectations - there is clearly a great demand for projects like these which give people who could remain isolated the opportunity to meet other people and get outside. Everyone taking part is very enthusiastic - some have even entered this years' Broxbourne in Bloom competition. Barbecues are held at the plots where our fresh vegetables are cooked along with meat we bring down for our communal lunch. Now that we're growing a lot of potatoes, I'm particularly looking forward to cooking up jacket potatoes on the barbecue!"

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Photo caption: Dean Salmon, resident at Springboard's Eleanor Cross Road hostel in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, makes a Dreamcatcher at the Open Day

For further information about Springboard or Genesis Housing Group, please contact Diana Evans on 020 7563 0028 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads, Springboard, St Matthew housing associations and Eastwards Trust. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most diverse housing groups in the UK. Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overiding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.

Springboard joined Genesis Housing Group in April 2005 and currently supports more than 5,000 households in 24 local authority areas across London, Essex and Hertfordshire. In addition to general needs housing, shared ownership and leasehold properties, Springboard specialises in supported housing for older people and those with special needs.