Help Build Gardens Swindon's Domestic Abuse Refuge

Team fundraiser

Alex Beeley and 3 others are organizing this fundraiser to benefit Swindon Women's Aid.

Gardens as Therapy for Victims of Domestic Abuse

The aim of our fundraising is to improve the outdoor spaces at the Swindon Domestic Abuse Refuge for the 60 or so victims and their families who find sanctuary here each year and the staff who work with them. Gardens being tried and tested therapy to repair trauma and improve mental health. Our latest fundraiser is The Christmas Brain Teaser - see 2 photos below - a bit of fun to share with friends and family with all donations going to creating a garden for older children with an outdoor gym, seating and veg beds. Have a Go and Good Luck!

And Our Book ....

Sorted! A Book of Handy Hints and Hacks, written by the garden volunteer team. The book has 140 pages of nifty tips in 8 chapters on cookery, gardening, outdoors, money-saving and more. With colourful, fun drawings and sayings, at £10 a copy (+£2pp), it's a feel-good gift and a fun read. To get a copy message on instagram @sortedhintsandhacks

The Garden Story So Far ......

In 2021 a fantastic, £10,000 was donated to build a sanctuary garden of raised beds that we planted for scent, colour, wildlife, picking and edibles. We installed an artificial lawn for year-round games and a weatherproof arbour big enough for mums with pushchairs to feel comfortable being outdoors in all weather. The garden is now rarely without someone enjoying sitting, playing or picking.

Pictures Below

In 2022 we raised a further £20,000 and renovated the pre-school play area by building a new garden with a soft play surface edged by herb and flower beds with a covered arbour and new play equipment. This is now a place where mums can bring their children to socialise, play and learn about growing things for themselves.

In '24 we are planning to renovate an area just for older children and adults to use. Here there will be an outdoor gym, veg beds with composting, cycle to work storage, washing lines and a decked seating area surrounded with raised beds of shrubs and trees.

Spaces like these will help the recovery and long-term outcomes for the 140 or so children and their mums who find themselves here each year. While overseeing the renovations, gardening friends and I are continuing to nurture the gardens and encouraging residents, young and old, to have a go too.

Any donation you can make will help us continue to expand and nurture the gardens and make a lasting difference to victims' lives.

From the Garden Gnomes - Alex Beeley, Emma Blackett, Caroline Hare, Sophie van Gerwen, Gurpreet Sanghara and the community of residents and staff at Swindon Refuge, present and future, thank you for all your amazing support and contributions.