Growing Together

Growing together logo

Vital support for community groups on becoming financially sustainable

Growing Together is a new partnership initiative of community and environmental sector organisations that will unlock income, land and skills for community growing groups to them become financially self-sustaining.

Growing Together has been awarded £800,000 by the Big Lottery Fund, which will enable it to hothouse fresh, innovative ways for local community growing groups to generate their own income. Over the next two years until 2018, we will promote the widespread uptake of innovative community enterprise; help people develop business and technical skills and offer advice and training on alternative funding approaches, such as community shares and digital income generation (DIG).

The aim is to offer tailored support to provide community growing initiatives with the confidence, skills and knowledge they need to move from reliance on grants to a dynamic and balanced income model.​

Specific Aims

  • To guide the UK’s community growing groups towards a financially sustainable future.
  • To develop and promote bright ideas that will enable grass roots groups move to a balanced income model.
  • To work with Government and big business to unlock land, skills and money that will help community growers to thrive.

The Growing Together Vision

That all community growing groups in the UK have the skills, knowledge and opportunity they need to create a financially sustainable future.

Who we are

Growing Together is a partnership initiative comprising:

  • Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
  • Groundwork UK
  • Incredible Edible Network
  • Permaculture Association
  • Development Trusts Association (Scotland)
  • Wales Cooperative Centre (Wales)
  • Cooperative Alternatives (Northern Ireland)

The work is also supported by a wider network of supporting stakeholders.

  • Action with Communities in Rural England
  • Community Composting Network
  • Community Land Advisory Service
  • Coops UK
  • Development Trusts Association Scotland
  • Garden Organic
  • Plunkett Foundation
  • Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
  • SenScot
  • Soil Association
  • Sustain

The project is managed by The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens,

For more information visit www.growingtogether.community click here or contact us .