Redcatch Community Garden seeks pro bono architectural support for a new community café space

What do they need help with?

Redcatch Community Garden (RCG) is located in Knowle, South Bristol, in one of the 10% most deprived areas in the UK. The community faces significant challenges, including higher-than-average health issues, low-income households, and low levels of education and employment among young people. With limited access to green spaces, RCG has become an essential hub for local residents, providing a welcoming, inclusive environment for community engagement, education, and support.

Every week, around 150 local school children visit for outdoor learning, and the garden runs holiday clubs offering meals and activities for children eligible for free school meals. The charity offers a range of activities, including gardening, cookery, messy play, art therapy for people living with dementia, and fitness classes for older adults. Additionally, RCG provides wellbeing, employability, and confidence-building courses, fostering a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.

One of RCG’s key income-generating assets is its food and drinks trailer, which operates year-round. However, to meet the growing demand for this vital service and expand its impact, RCG has been granted planning permission for a new 80-square-metre, single-story café to be built within the garden. This café will help RCG increase its ability to provide healthy meals, sell organic produce, and support its ongoing community programmes.

RCG is now seeking pro bono architectural support to help bring this new café to life, ensuring it serves as a welcoming, functional space that aligns with the organisation’s values and needs. The café will not only enhance RCG’s food provision but will also play a crucial role in supporting its income-generating activities and ensuring its sustainability.

Timeline

As soon as possible

About the organisation

Redcatch Community Garden (RCG) plays a vital role in addressing the social and economic challenges faced by the local community in Knowle, South Bristol. Located in one of the most deprived areas in the UK, RCG is a hub for over 200,000 visitors annually, offering a wide range of activities and support services. These include outdoor educational programmes, cooking, crafting, and fitness classes, as well as art therapy for people with dementia and special educational needs.

The charity is deeply embedded in the local community and offers free, healthy meals to those in need, along with organic produce and handmade goods sold on-site. RCG’s income-generating food and drinks trailer is a key asset, and with the planning approval for the new café, the organisation hopes to expand this provision to meet the growing demand. RCG’s team consists of 21 staff members and over 50 volunteers, many of whom have lived experience with food insecurity and mental health challenges.

https://www.redcatchcommunitygarden.com