Three years ago we had just got our hands on the keys to Railway Gardens! Building works began and we’ve spent the last three years getting some stuff right, messing other stuff up, and learning a lot.
Since then well over 5,000 people have taken part in activities at Railway Gardens, 50% of activities on site are now led by the community, food is being grown and shared, and the project is bringing in some of it’s own money through venue hire.
This autumn and winter is going to be a bit of a time of change for us and we wanted to explain a bit about what our plans are going forward. The funding for Becca and Hannah’s roles at Railway Gardens, as well as the money to run most aspects of the project day to day, comes to an end at the end of August. We have applied for a grant to continue and grow our work in Splott, and Julia’s role is secure for four years thanks to support from the Building Communities Trust. We have of course got contingency plans in place, but the future is a little uncertain right now.
At the same time, Railway Gardens is starting to take on a life of its own, and while there’s a role for Green Squirrel in leading the project for some time to come, we are now able to think about how we step back – just a tiny bit – and make more space for the community to lead. As part of this change we’re taking on one of the shipping containers along the site, and turning the current Green Squirrel office into a cosy dedicated space for the volunteers.
Alongside this we’re considering how Green Squirrel, as a social enterprise, can generate more income to support our work growing a greener city – and reduce our reliance on grant funding, which is often essential but can be restrictive and time consuming. We’ll be offering some exciting new workshops, making extra space available to hire at Railway Gardens, and more.
By following our journey, you are supporting us. And as someone who supports us – and maybe someone who has been part of the Squirrel community for the last 12 years – we feel you deserve to be kept up to date! We also want to suggest some practical ways you can support Green Squirrel through this period of change if you like what we do and want to see more of it in the future.
1. Raise funds for us when you shop online through our new easyfundraising platform – at no extra cost to you! This platform is already working really well for us, and 64 people have signed up. Can you help us get to 70? Find everything you need to know in this blog post.
2. Come to an event. Every penny raised through ticket sales goes back into our work. We have loads of online and in person events and workshops to enjoy, take a look at everything here. Or could you share our events with friends and family?
3. Could you be the new Chair of our Board of Directors? We’re seeking someone with governance experience to join our board and help steer us in the coming years. Find out more.
4. Become a Squirrel Supporter. For just £5/ month you get some lovely perks – and it makes a huge difference to us. Find out more.
5. Hire Railway Gardens for your next event, meeting, or party. Find out more.
We are excited to share more of our plans for 2025 and beyond with you over the coming months! We are committed to supporting more people to turn climate worry into climate action, and we know that with your support we can help create a greener, fairer future for people, place, and planet.
