Community day care centre, Marlow House in Desborough, received grant funding from Groundwork Northamptonshire’s, Grow Cook Eat initiative. Here, Centre Manager, Diane White talks about the impact the funding has had on clients, visitors and staff, and how even a small harvest goes a very long way.

At Marlow House, our aim is to provide a warm and friendly environment where older people and those suffering with dementia, can come for great company, fun activities and nutritious home cooked meals in a home-from-home atmosphere. Our day centre is open every weekday, but we also provide ‘meals on wheels’ seven days a week, 365 days a year across Desborough and Rothwell.

The provision of nutritious food is a fundamental objective for us, and our cooks, Alison and Wendy are passionate about providing the best meals for all our clients.

Marlow House

Straight forward application process

When we heard about the possibility of grant funding from Groundwork Northamptonshire’s Grow Cook Eat initiative, we were really excited. The garden at the centre was run-down and was essentially a wasted space. High winds had knocked over our fence and vandals had broken into our shed…in short, we needed some help.

We applied for grant funding from Grow Cook Eat – a process that was refreshingly straight forward and very quick. We soon put the investment to good use by replacing the fences, installing a new shed and several raised, moveable flower beds, perfect for our clients to access.

A little goes a long way

Once the beds were in place, we set about planting our crops – potatoes, onions, courgettes, rhubarb, strawberries and all manner of herbs. Plus pots with a peach tree, a plum tree, a pear tree and a bumper crop of tomatoes.

This being our first year, our harvest was somewhat modest, but the joy that growing and harvesting has given us all – clients, visitors and staff alike – has been immeasurable. Alison and Wendy have been out there in their aprons, gleefully gathering courgettes for the hotpot. And when our peach tree produced its first (and what turned out to be its only) fruit – we cut it up into enough slices for everyone to have a taste. A simple but incredibly joyful moment.

The importance of wellbeing

The impact of the rejuvenated garden also goes well beyond the produce we have grown. It is now a lovely place for clients, visitors and staff to enjoy. We have hosted coffee mornings outside and even afternoon tea, complete with bunting.

Our clients sometimes reminisce, and I have often heard comments like “I used to love my garden”. To be able to provide this space for them to relax in, take part in and enjoy the fresh produce is a real win for us. It really is a huge success.

Our Grow Cook Eat project – funded by Public Health Northamptonshire – includes a dedicated pot of funding for 2024-2025. That means we have grants of up to £3,000 for community groups and not for profit organisations in the north of the county. These grants are designed to help groups and people expand their cooking confidence and skills, tackle obesity, and are also about giving people access to green spaces and revitalising communities. 

Visit https://www.groundwork.org.uk/northamptonshire/grow-cook-eat-2024/ and scroll to the bottom of this web page for grant forms and details or email growcookeat@groundwork.org.uk