Search

​Welcome to Give Gain Grow - Gosport Community Group's Website

​Welcome to Give Gain Grow Gosport Community Group website and a Happy New Year for 2021 to everyone. We are a local community group, mainly supporting adults with learning difficulties or extra support needs, however we encourage all members of the community to get involved! We are based in the local South coastal town of Gosport, Hampshire.

Our main aim is to run a community-led group helping reduce social isolation, encourage community inclusion, participation and to promote overall well-being. We do this by the facilitation of community-led projects in the local area for the benefit of everyone in the local area.

We run Gosport Community Gardeners Group - further information about this group can be found below.
N.B. - Currently, due to the on-going Coronavirus pandemic, all of our regular group sessions remain closed.
However,  do watch this space.. if all goes to plan with the easing of UK-wide restrictions due to Coronavirus, we hope to safely re-open the site for volunteers by mid-May 2021... 
Find out more about our regular community groups here:

Archive  - About one of our previous groups:
Talking Heads Social Group  (This group has now CLOSED)

Gosport Community Gardeners Group
​N.B: Regular  Group Sessions remain closed  due to Coronavirus.
You can find other local Gosport-based Frienship groups
(on Facebook) below:
Facebook - Gosport Friendship Groups search.
N.B. - Weekly Group sessions are currently  closed due to Coronavirus pandemic.
(Sessions times are weekly at our allotment plot in Rowner - entrance: off Green Crescent.)

Latest News & Updates...

Announcing an exciting new Volunteer Opportunity for mid-May 2021:
Group Session Leader for weekly allotment group (to start mid-May, all being well with Covid-19 restrictions lifting)

Here are the full details...
  • Do you enjoy being outdoors, have a passion for growing food and want to make a difference to your community?
We are looking for people to run sessions for a community gardening group based at Rowner Allotments. The group has been on hold during the pandemic and this is an opportunity to make the role your own, contributing to future plans for supporting your community.

The group sessions are a chance for people to get outside and learn about growing produce and plants – known to boost confidence and self-esteem, reduce loneliness and is an ideal way to meet new people. We need a volunteer to lead the sessions to help our Community Gardeners engage in the growing and socialising aspects of the group. Basic gardening knowledge would be beneficial.

Starting from mid-May onwards, a two-hour weekly session will be held for local people with learning disabilities and mental health issues. We are looking to run further sessions for other groups, such as people who are retired, seeking work, or younger people. The days and times of the sessions can be agreed to suit the volunteer Group Session Leader and we are open to ideas for the new sessions.
Gosport Community Gardeners (previously Gosport Wild Gardeners) has been established since the Spring of 2016.

The allotment plot has been renovated by the National Grid to include a shelter and improve accessibility. Full support will be provided to the session leader by our established committee, Give Gain Grow.  

The role would be suitable for anyone interested in building experience for a horticultural career, or purely to develop your organisational skills, leadership skills and project management experience. Volunteers will have the opportunity to make links with other community groups and bodies and build connections within the local area.

Interested? If you would like more information or want to apply for the volunteer Group Session Leader role please contact Catt on 07478 575050 or Karen on 07837 841186 for more information. You may need to leave a message at first - please don’t let that put you off - we really do want to hear from you! You can also contact us via e-mail: givegaingrow@hotmail.com

If you are interested in joining a group as a Community Gardener please get in touch and we will keep you updated on when you can join us and start growing! 
N.B. Deadline/informal discussion date is Friday 23rd April 2021.

Please note that a DBS check and references are required for the Group Session Leader role. We can be flexible in agreeing the amount of involvement and the dates and times of sessions, though we are looking for a regular commitment.
 
Skills:
- Enthusiastic and patient individual, willing to help adults from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Basic gardening knowledge is desirable.
 
Other Important information:
  • Accessibility – Access to the allotment plot includes uneven ground in places though the plot itself has a boarded path for wheelchair users.
  • Equal Opportunities Policy - Yes
  • Health and Safety Policy - Yes
  • Ongoing support - Yes, from GGG Committee
  • Suitable for Under 18's - Yes
  • Training provided - Yes, on-line safeguarding training
  • Volunteer induction - Yes
  • Volunteer Policy - Yes
  • Volunteers covered by insurance - Yes
  • Written role description - As above, full details of role to be agreed with the volunteers
Spring 2021 update on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and how this affects us all...
Since the end of March 2020, when the UK Government issued a country-wide lockdown, life across the country changed for all of us due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) virus - obviously our main priority as a community focused group is to ensure the safety and well-being of all our volunteers and also that we keep you up to date with any new developments as they change.

Current Government restrictions are gradually being eased, but for everyone to obeserve the rule of 6 when meeting outdoors and to work at home if at all possible.

At this time (April 2021) we are currently on the roadmap to gradually easing out of restrictions, slowly but safely with the main advice still being for people to go out for essential supplies and as infrequently as possible.
For this reason, we are still not resuming any on-site activities at this time.
​
There is a planned potential route/roadmap out of lockdown being outlined by the Government in four key steps.

You can find out more about these on the UK Government website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021

Remember there are three important simple actions we can all do to help protect each other:
  • Wash your hands - keep washing your hands regularly.
  • Cover Face - wear a face covering in enclosed spaces.
  • Make Space - stay at least 2 metres apart.

Give Gain Grow Committee members have continued to meet safely by having regular meetings on the Zoom and Google Meet video platform.

For the latest updates on Coronavirus restrictions and information, visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus

In September 2020: the official Covid-19 NHS App was released for smartphone and iPhone users. All adults over the age of 16, registered with a GP in England where a contact e-mail or phone number was given, were either texted or e-mailed to download the app as part of the national NHS Test and Trace programme. The app can help protect you and your loved ones, using your phone's built-in Bluetooth technology to see if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus. Full information can be found here: covid19.nhs.uk

To download this app for your device, follow the links below:
Trust only official sources for information...

​We urge you to only trust information from the following official sources to avoid any misleading or incorrect information as there is a lot of mis-information going around.

Official trusted websites are as follows:
 - Other Coronavirus resources: 

 - Specific Official UK Government advice: How to stay safe as a volunteer - www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely--2/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely​
Picture
Above: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support information for Gosport Residents - courtesy of Gosport Voluntary Action, Gosport Borough Council & Hampshire Country Council.

Action For Happiness - Mindfulness Action Calendar: March 2020

Each month, we will be sharing a different Action Calendar for Mindfulness, courtesy of Action For Happiness.org - the calendars all contain an inspiring quote plus some simple everyday things we can do or think about that can give you that inspiration or motivational lift that we all sometimes need in everyday life...  
  • This month's theme is: Mindful March 2020 - daily actions for you to spread a bit of goodness across the world.
​  February quotation: "Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing" - Jon Kabat-Zinn
​(image and content below is courtesy of actionforhappiness.org/calendars)
Action Calendar - March 2020 - image courtesy of actionforhappiness.org
Action Calendar: March 2020 - content and image is courtesy of www.actionforhappiness.org/calendars

Gosport Community Gardeners: Allotment site being  upgraded over Winter 2020... 

​Gosport Community Gardeners Allotment site will be temporarily closed throughout the Winter 2019/2020 - due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the re-opening of the allotment has now been postponed until later in the year or possibly pushed back to early 2021. 
​
Exciting new construction work has begun on site with the very generous help of volunteers from the National Grid which will be a complete overhaul of the allotment, introducing some fantastic new features including a new shelter building, new polytunnels, more accessibility for disabled users with a new wheelchair-friendly pathway and easier to reach planting beds for those with physical disabilities.

​We will re-open the allotment to all volunteers with a grand re-opening possibly sometime later this year or early 2021.

If you want to join the Gosport Community Gardeners group as a new member or for any  other enquiries, please get in touch via e-mail: givegaingrow@hotmail.com for more information.
Allotment photo Gosport Community Gardeners, Give Gain Grow
GcG Allotment site is being upgraded and will be closed over Winter 2019, but re-opening late 2020 or early 2021.
How to Feel Your Feelings...
How to feel your feelings poster... image and content below is courtesy of the Everyday Mindfulness Twitter page, and Emily McDowell.
How To Feel Your Feelings - poster by Emily McDowell (image).
How To Feel Your Feelings - poster by Emily McDowell.
IMPORTANT: New Contact Phone Number for Give Gain Grow Community Group
From 19th September 2019, the new phone number for Give Gain Grow is: 07426 494118 - please take note of this new number as this is what will be using from now on.
Saturday 8th June 2019 - Gosport Community Gardeners Plants raise funds for the group
Gosport Community Gardeners group would like to thank members, Rachel and Laura who did a plant sale at St. Mary's Church, Rowner earlier today and were able to raise a fabulous £81.61 towards funding the group.. Well done indeed!

Monday 27th May 2019 - Our  Spring Community Allotment Open Day  was a blooming success...

We had a great day for the Gosport Community Gardeners' Spring Community Allotment Open Day and we were so proud of how the allotment was looking today thanks to all the volunteers' continuous hard work - it just wouldn't happen without you!

Members of the group met with the general public and showed them our community allotment plot at Rowner Allotments on Monday 27th May 2019.

We managed to raise £89 from generous donations which will help our fund to pay for shed repairs following a recent break-in at the allotments.
Here are some photos from the Gosport Community Gardeners' Open Day...
     Click on any thumbnail for a larger image:

News Update: National Grid  Ventures Supporting Give Gain Grow's Talking Heads Group: April 2019

National Grid Ventures | IFA2 logo (image)
The group have been very fortunate to have gained the support of The National Grid in the issue of combatting loneliness in Gosport.
For members attending our Talking Heads Social Group who are unable to access public transport either through limited mobility or disability issues and you would benefit from attending our Talking Heads group, then please contact us to arrange transport for you. Talking Heads meet at Caffé Lee and Gosport Discovery Centre - please check our website and Facebook page for times and dates each month.
It helps if we have as much notice as possible if you need a lift, so don’t delay and call about Talking Heads Group today on 07426 494118.

For further details and registered information on the UK operating companies within the National Grid group please visit :www.nationalgrid.com/group/about-us/corporate-registrations

Wear a Hat Day - Friday 29th March 2019 Fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research

Give Gain Grow volunteers and the Gosportarians, along with Gosport Mayor - Diane Furlong were all out and about today helping to raise money for Brain Tumour Research charity, celebrating National Wear A Hat Day in Gosport High Street. The weather was fanastic and the people of Gosport were very generous in their donations and we are pleased to announce we raised over £100 for the charity.

#WearAHatDay #fundraising #gosport
Click on any thumnail to see a larger image:

Friday 29th March 2019 - A Fond Farewell to volunteer and Chair of Give Gain Grow, Chris Fernie...

It would be fair to say that Chris Fernie, GGG Chair up until the end of March 2019, devoted a great deal of time and effort in her role with Give Gain Grow. We thank her for all her hard work over the past few years and all the volunteering hours she put in at the allotment with Gosport Community Gardeners Group.  The group surprised her today with a photo cake, signed card and a present today at Gosport Discovery Centre to wish her well on her future adventures and hope she enjoys a well earned retirement - all of the team and members of Give Gain Grow will miss you - but you made such a positive impact on the group and this will always be so valued.

So here's to Chris and as she says in her own words: "Never be afraid to follow your dreams..." Thank you Chris for being an ispirational, enthusiastic and  wonderful Chair for the group.
​
Another member of the committee, volunteer Chris Seward has now taken up the role of Chair for the group.
The group saying a fond farewell to volunteer and Chair of GGG - Chris Fernie (image)
Give Gain Grow say a fond farewell to Chair, Chris Fernie - pictured at Gosport Discovery Centre.

Ten Keys to Happier Living  

The Great DREAM - we want to share this inspirational Ten Keys to Happier Living acronym poster below.
(image is courtesy of actionforhappiness.org)
Follow the Give Gain Grow Facebook page here:

| Give Gain Grow
| Gosport Community Group

​Supporting adults with learning difficulties or mental health issues.

Telephone:  
​07426 494118

E-mail:
​givegaingrow@hotmail.com

All information on this website is (C) Give Gain Grow Gosport Community Group, 2020. This is a Weebly Website created and maintained by James Musselwhite, 2020.