Volunteering: Cynon Valley Organic Adventures

11 Volunteering: start college and enrol in driving lessons, but he still comes to tend Cynon Valley the community garden. With his Organic involvement, both he and the garden have flourished. Adventures (CVOA) Weather conditions have been particularly challenging for the CVOA Before CVOA, locals just medicated to brave the elements, but a new health problems. There was nowhere garden shed and café should provide nearby to focus on lifestyle changes protection. in order to prevent issues and strengthen immune systems. In light Indeed thanks to funding, they have of this, there was a need for a place to developed practical support for the improve wellbeing and build resilience community, the foodbank, community through interaction with nature. The training programmes, their café, and CVOA team leased a plot of land on volunteering opportunities. Interlink the outskirts of Abercynon, and their RCT are among in the funders who community garden has helped many have made these projects and CVOA volunteers. possible. Usually, CVOA finds out about Consider “S”. His mother said that due to his autism it would be unlikely that The group has received practical he’d turn up let alone do any work. support when needed, and taken Except he did turn up. Week after the training available to make week, he quietly came to the shed to the community project happen. put on his wellies and he worked hard Supporting groups have brought on the plot from the beginning to end. opportunities to CVOA, enabling them Nothing has been too much trouble for to grow and become sustainable. him, and nothing fazes him.

He has achieved everything he has set his mind to. S has gone on to group. It’s taken real commitment grants through Interlink RCT emails.