Founded in 1978, the New Hall Voluntary Service has been providing help and support to vulnerable members of their local community for over 25 years.

Working alongside adult volunteers and members of New Hall School Year 12 students who act as leaders, the students give up their free time once a week to help run ten Action Groups.

The elderly, young children and adults with specific learning difficulties are among the many people who benefit from the work of the NHVS both here and at venues throughout Chelmsford.

NHVS have now added the Wilderness Foundation UK Community Allotments Project to their portfolio of good causes, and we welcomed the first group of volunteers onto the site yesterday (Monday) during lunch break.  Eleven willing helpers pitched in with forks and spades, clearing weeds and preparing plots ready to be planted with main crop potatoes by our impACT environmental action youth group.

We’re delighted that NHVS are supporting the Community Allotments.   As a reward for their hard work, the students will be given a selection of organic produce that they have contributed to growing through the scheme, which can either be used with NHVS’s beneficiaries or taken home to recharge their batteries ready for the next session!

Schools, youth groups, adults and community groups and associations are all welcome at the Community Allotments project.   We hold an open session on the first Saturday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (when we usually focus on a conservation project) or Wednesday every week of the year from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

At this time of year, we urgently need regular helpers to water the crops in the morning or evening.  If you can support us with this, or would like to get involved with growing your own at our allotments, email richard@wildernessfoundation.org.uk