Earlier this month, our President, Countess Howe, hosted a Seeing is Believing event with Friends & Patrons of Heart of Bucks. These events provide an opportunity for guests to see first-hand the impact of the grassroots charities and community groups that Heart of Bucks supports.
Our first stop was People and Planet Matter and their Grow to Give project. Originally established during the pandemic in 2020, the project works with a network of local allotment growers across the county to supply fresh produce to food banks. We were fortunate to meet some ‘Champion Growers’ who shared their allotment growing wisdom and kindly gave our guests some purple basil to take away.
Funding has helped to expand the Grow to Give project by introducing recipe cards and videos to help people make the most of the ingredients they receive.
Next, we visited Wendover Shed, where a welcoming community workshop space enables like-minded people to come together, share skills, and work on projects. Through regular ‘Make and Mend’ and ‘Coffee and Natter’ sessions, the group helps combat social isolation while promoting positive wellbeing and community connection. Many of the men shared stories of their own personal struggles and how visiting the Shed has helped them through difficult times.
With funding, the Shed has been able to to develop their off-grid solar power solutions by adding extra solar panels and upgrading their battery capacity, meaning sessions can run whatever the weather, and even during the winter months.
Finally, we saw a presentation from The Potter’s House Aylesbury, where we learned more about their Mind & Body Hub. The project provides free, inclusive, and culturally relevant support for people who face barriers to accessing mainstream health and wellbeing services. Activities include sports classes, cooking workshops, mental health support, and talks from GPs, dietitians, and therapists.
It was inspiring to see the different ways these organisations are supporting people across Buckinghamshire. From tackling food insecurity and reducing social isolation to improving access to health and wellbeing support, each project is making a meaningful difference. For Countess Howe and our Friends & Patrons, the day provided a valuable opportunity to meet the people behind these projects and gain a deeper understanding of their work.
Thank you to all the organisations and volunteers who took the time to welcome us and share their work.
We are grateful to Chilterns Dial-A-Ride for providing transport throughout the day.
If you are interested in joining a future Seeing is Believing event, or would like your organisation to be considered for a visit, please contact us at events@heartofbucks.org.
