As 2024 comes to an end, we look back at the year that was and take stock of all we have achieved, the challenges that have been thrown our way, and the incredible people that have been integral in making Newquay Community Orchard a place that is caring, healing and inspiring for Newquay residents and visitors alike.
The last year has seen an unpredictable landscape when it comes to funding community enhancement, coupled with a harsh economic climate and severe rise in cost of living, forcing us to change tack, take stock, and reevaluate how best to serve the community sustainably while ensuring people and values are at the forefront of everything we do. It has been a year of change, trialling new things, and learning, in conjunction with talented local businesses, volunteers, community organisations, customers, students, and staff. We are so proud of the contributions of each and every person that has come to our site and become a part of the Orchard family, we have seen first-hand how when our community bands together, great things can be achieved.
Over the last year we have welcomed over 260 different organisations onto our site, whether they have assisted in education, helped out with volunteering, rented a meeting room or desk, run therapy sessions, held a workshop or performance, or embedded themselves on our site through nature, connection or learning. It has been incredible to welcome so many talented, dedicated and driven individuals to the Orchard.
Our Volunteers have been pivotal in our development as an urban green space, growing with us, and each other, to create our wonderful site. This year we have had over 19,500 hours of time dedicated to growth and maintenance, they are at the heart of everything we do, we are truly built by the community, for the community.
We also couldn’t grow and manage the amount of fresh produce we do without our volunteers and passionate staff members, and this year has been an incredible trajectory in our growth. We have grown 6.8 tonnes of food for the community following agroecological methods and without the use of any chemicals (up from 3.9 tonnes last year!). There has been 3,329 bags of veg produced for 135 Grown customers including 156 bags provided for free to 13 patients of Watergate Primary Care Network as part of their diabetes care – one of our most treasured statistics as all of these patients have had their symptoms either slow or disappear completely with the receival of fresh, nutritious, and accessible food. Throughout the year we have also provided 900 bags of veg for free to our volunteers and a whopping 5,730 free hot meals for both volunteers and the community cooked using vegetables grown by volunteers and learners here at Newquay Orchard.
It has been wonderful to watch so many of our learners take part in the beauty of Newquay Orchard, learning new skills, finding new passions, and becoming more in tune with the natural world around them. We welcomed 42 young people attended our Growing Futures programmes of study many of whom have additional needs, a further 35 young people supported through our young people’s programmes (YEP!), 20 completed qualifications and moved onto further education. 475 hours of high quality work experience was provided for our Supported Interns all of whom have additional needs. And in our adult education programmes we had 49 adults complete a course in horticulture and employability with another 59 adults completing a course or gaining a qualification in green skills. It has been consistently heartwarming to be a part of the development of each and every student that has joined us this year, and to also bear witness to the impact they have left on our site, staff, and each other.
“Leading this organisation is a privilege and I extend a big thank you to everyone who has made this last year more than just (what we think are fantastic!) statistics, without the amazing community that is Newquay, none of this would be possible. Particular thanks goes out to our staff, a team whose passion, belief, dedication, and heart has created an environment where individual differences and the contributions of everyone are recognised, celebrated, and valued.” Charlotte Hill, CEO
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, we look forward to what the next year brings!