Community is at the heart of what we do, so we're excited to share our latest volunteering project at Bognor Library Community Garden! Led by our passionate Volunteer Coordinator, Tracy, a team of volunteers has been meeting every Thursday morning to breathe new life into this neglected space.

The Bognor Library Community Garden was originally funded by a generous £10,000 donation from Southern Water in 2018. From then on, it was created to promote social cohesion through the joys of gardening. Although it wasn't until 2019 that the garden was officially opened and maintained for several years, last year saw it left unattended. Now, thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and a generous £200 donation from Covers in Bognor—a local builders merchant—we're transforming this underused space so everyone can enjoy it.

Tracy provides regular updates and photos across the Trust, and the comments are always filled with praise for the team's outstanding work. Gemma Baldwin, Head of People & Development, said, "The garden is looking fantastic! Thank you, Tracy, to you and your team of volunteers – you've done an amazing job."

The garden will also serve as a gathering place for many within our network, such as MyNetwork, MyNetwork Plus, and other events. But we aim to make it a welcoming haven for everyone in the community. 

Make sure to follow our Facebook (@aldingbourneTrustUK) and Instagram (@aldingbournetrust) pages to catch the latest on this! 

​Written by Lizzie Williams. For any media inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]

On the 13th of July, Gig Buddies completed their summer fundraising walk by strolling all the way around Portsea Island. 

In preparation for this challenge, they've been walking in various postcodes of Portsmouth each month. Luckily, when the day came to, they were blessed with perfect weather—mild temperatures and some cloud cover—making the 15-mile journey a very comfortable and enjoyable one.

Participants approached the walk with varying levels of preparation. Alan, a regular walker, took a few long walks before the event. Blossom, who had never walked 15 miles, was surprised by her own endurance. While Dave, with minimal preparation, felt very accomplished at his age! 

There was lots to enjoy along the way, as Portsmouth is not short of breathtaking views along the southern coastline. Some got to explore parts of the area they had never seen before. Despite Lynda's familiarity with the city as a District Nurse, she was amazed by the new places she discovered.

Luckily, there were no complications on the day. Their biggest challenge, in fact, was encouraging those who were unaccustomed to such a long distance. Organiser Mike Harris shared, "For the walk itself, the challenge was in the timing of stages to ensure whoever we were meeting for sections were met on time."

The end of the walk was a moment of triumph, and in particular, two walkers who walked every mile throughout the year were rewarded with Gig Buddies hoodies as a token of their dedication. Mike shared, "The sense of achievement people felt after completing the walk and the fact that not many had ever covered 15 miles in one go before was incredibly rewarding."

When asked about their favourite part of the day, Morna shared, "Chatting to people was lovely and seeing people being so proud of their achievements was great."

Please consider donating if you feel inspired and wish to contribute to their fundraiser. They are raising funds for future events and helping to subsidise some hoodies for the winter. Donate here: https://www.aldingbournetrust.org/store/p261/Gig-Buddies-Walk-Portsmouth.html

​Written by Lizzie Williams. For any media inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]