Elim Oasis Church
People: Improving people’s mental wellbeing
We want to transform our barren grounds into an oasis – a memorial meadow for those with mental illness; a sensory area with plants; and seating areas – all involving our neighbours and community.
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About this cause
We are a church with a big heart for our community. We have a Community Gardening Group which includes our neighbours and we have an ambitious project: to transform our barren grounds into an oasis for all. This will include a memorial meadow, not in memory of those who have died, but to think of those who have mental illness. A pergola and seating areas for calm reflection. There will also be a sensory area with plants, disabled access, and more besides. We have made some 'baby' steps, with neighbours volunteering precious time for weeding, planting and watering plants. One cheerful volunteer donated time and materials to make wooden planters which we matched with funds for plants.
How this cause brings people in the community together
Our community garden will help connect the community of Ranelagh Grove and the wider St Peter's village. This initiative has three primary objectives 1) to engage everyone to get stuck in and transform weed-ridden areas of Elim Oasis Church's grounds. With lots of skills to pass on, our hope is that we can help people appreciate and value their environment 2) to create areas for calm reflection, appreciating the beauty surrounding them, such as a memorial meadow dedicated to those who have/had mental illness, floral planters, colourful and full of scents, a pergola to distinguish the different themes in the oasis, and paths and seating areas with access to all, including the disabled 3) to develop areas which will provide insects with pollen, and birds with nesting materials, etc.