Spotlight on: Women's Support Centre Surrey

Date: 

Tuesday, 12 May, 2020

Molly White from Surrey Family Services tells us about a successful partnership project with the Women’s Support Centre, Surrey and the Junction Cafe in Woking. The project was supported by RHS Wisley and M&G Investments.

“In the spring of 2019, Women’s Support Centre and the Junction Café in Woking were allocated support and funding to develop a garden design as part of the Greening Great Britain initiative. The idea behind the project was to bring together the different user groups of the Junction Cafe to create an inclusive outdoor space.

“Work started with the different user groups creating mood boards to help fully identify what they wanted from the garden. It was decided that a neglected courtyard would be converted into a place  of tranquility, reflection, comfort and warmth.

“There was a strong focus on vertical planting, using a mixture of pallets and hanging wall pockets. In addition, we created a seating area and two beautiful mosaics for the courtyard walls.

Materials were reused and upcycled wherever possible. Friends of the project kindly donated  items such as a water butt, paint, tiles and a floor rug. A large planter was constructed by one of the youth workers with help from the young people and local artist, Mitchy, offered a garden plaque.

“Mayor of Woking, Cllr. Beryl Hunwicks officially opened the garden on Thursday 19 September 2019.

“Thank you to RHS Wisley and M&G as well as everyone involved with helping to create such a beautiful space.”

To find out more about the Women's Support Centre visit www.womenssupportcentresurrey.org.uk or email wscadmin@wipuk.org. Thanks to Molly White (Surrey County Council) and Donna Drummond (Women’s Support Centre) for the article and images supplied.