The Allotment Project (TAP) is a social enterprise based in Waterhouses, County Durham that provides inclusive, nature-based wellbeing and skills development activities for young people and adults. Through outdoor learning, practical skills development and healthy food initiatives, TAP creates a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can grow in confidence, build positive relationships and gain the tools they need to live well.
County Durham has some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK. According to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), it is the 26th most deprived local authority in England for employment and the 42nd most deprived for income. TAP’s work serves young people and adults from County Durham’s pit villages. It supports people who are out of work or on low incomes, feeling isolated, living with anxiety or trauma, or who have learning disabilities. This includes at-risk youth facing difficulty in mainstream education or who have challenging home environments.
TAP’s allotment site provides the foundation for all its activities. The Project provides alternative education, youth clubs as well as wellbeing programmes for adults who are in poverty or experiencing complex needs. Collaborating with schools, councils, and health professionals, the organisation now serves over 150 individuals annually with outdoor learning, food growing, cooking, and social support. Activities include:
Gardening, horticulture & animal care: Participants will grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers on TAP’s accessible allotment, as well as tend for chickens. These activities promote physical activity, nurture responsibility, and provide therapeutic benefits.
Cooking and food-based learning: Participants will help prepare and share a nutritious meal during each session. Much of the food used is grown on site. Participants also take surplus produce home to reduce food insecurity and build confidence in cooking.
Physical activity: TAP offers inclusive physical activities such as guided walks and bike rides. The Project has 10 bikes, and a trained staff member leads small-group rides. Participants also have access to safe, user-friendly gym equipment on site. The allotment backs onto a woodland which is used for walks and quiet, reflective time.
Recreational and social activities: Board games, darts, pool, discussion groups and “pie club” provide opportunities to relax and connect in a supportive environment.
Skills and confidence building: Through academic and informal learning, participants gain practical life skills, increase self-belief, and are supported to take steps towards further engagement or training.
TAP’s main aim is to improve people’s quality of life. Many people grow in confidence and independence, needing less support as they develop social, emotional, and practical skills. Participants often show improved attendance, behaviour, readiness to learn, and many progress into further training or employment. Some transition into college, apprenticeships, or volunteering, while others move into mainstream activities once ready.
Much of TAP’s allotment site has been developed gradually with beneficiaries using recycled or donated materials and volunteer support. Feedback from participants, families, schools and partner organisations has highlighted that improvements to accessibility and infrastructure are essential to ensure the site can continue meeting community needs safely and effectively. Disabled access has been identified as a key priority, with some participants currently facing barriers to fully accessing all areas of the project.
The Foundation is supporting TAP with a grant towards capital improvements, alongside wider site accessibility developments and renovations, to ensure equitable participation and to remove physical barriers that prevent individuals from fully engaging in its activities. These improvements will support people with physical disabilities and help to create a calmer, more inclusive space for individuals with cognitive, emotional, and sensory needs. Alongside capacity development support, the Foundation’s grant will strengthen the organisation’s long-term impact and sustainability. Better site accessibility will allow TAP to support more participants year-round, expand its wellbeing and educational activities, and improve the overall experience for children, young people and adults attending sessions.
