£18,000 Award for Community Garden Wellbeing Project

£18,000 Award for Community Garden Wellbeing Project

12th March 2026

Haldane Youth Services has been awarded £18,000 over the next two years from the WDCVS Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund to develop a new community garden project supporting adults aged 16+ across West Dunbartonshire.

The project marks an important expansion of Haldane Youth Services’ work, building on its strong track record with children, young people, and families. The new garden group responds directly to a gap in local provision for adults who may be experiencing isolation, low confidence, poor mental health, or who are less likely to access traditional support services.

The community garden will provide a therapeutic, inclusive, and welcoming space where participants can:

• Build social connections and reduce feelings of isolation
• Improve confidence and wellbeing through gentle, meaningful activity
• Learn practical gardening and outdoor skills
• Contribute to a shared community space that grows over time

By offering a calm, nature‑based environment, the project aims to support mental wellbeing in a way that feels accessible and non‑clinical. Participants will be encouraged to shape the garden together, creating a sense of ownership, pride, and shared purpose.

A spokesperson for Haldane Youth Services said the funding will allow the organisation to reach adults who often fall between the gaps of existing services. “This project gives people a place to belong, to learn, and to reconnect with others in a supportive environment. The garden will grow food, flowers, and skills, but most importantly, it will grow confidence and community.”