What’s Parklea Branching Out?
Parklea Branching Out Ltd (PBO) was established in 1997 to help to develop local individuals with support needs in Inverclyde to fulfil their potential. Port Glasgow based PBO aims to promote the personal development and wellbeing of vulnerable clients primarily people with learning disabilities through access to therapeutic gardening and training. Parklea offers training and work experience in a supported setting to offer holistic approaches to develop skills and improve life chances for service users. In recognising the therapeutic value of a horticultural environment, Parklea have adopted a holistic, client-centred approach with the aim of achieving optimum independence, dignity and fulfilment, while respecting the individuality and rights of each person.
Who is Parklea for?
The initial beneficiaries of PBO were individuals in Port Glasgow with learning difficulties and their families and carers. Although this is still a core focus, service users now include adults and children with physical disabilities, young people and adults with mental health issues, school leavers, young and long term unemployed, elderly groups, community groups and volunteers from Port Glasgow. In addition to the positive benefits to families and carers of service users, there will be a direct benefit to society in the reduce cost of supporting these individuals in the community including primary healthcare, disability allowances and the consequences of reduced unemployment.
The PBO site is over 3 acres and started life as a derelict area of land adjacent to the Local authority plant nursery and depot. Over the last 23 years PBO have gradually adapted the site, accessed funding for timber cabins, acquired second hand equipment to provide a vital community facility catering to a wide range of Port Glasgow and Inverclyde residents.
How have Community Links Scotland been involved in Parklea’s growth?
CLS have been working with Parklea for the last ten years, during which time we have accessed the organisation more than £3.5 million in funding for staff, client projects, new buildings and environmental improvements.
Examples of our work
Community Greenhouse
Previous buildings included a new community greenhouse and activity space which allows the client group to undertake a variety of craft, art and therapeutic projects.
Staff Support
CLS provide ongoing staff support either directly to existing staff and have also carried out Business Plans, Options Studies and successful funding applications to enhance and expand the staff team into other areas including heritage, cycling and employment.
Community Garden Hub
CLS have been working with PBO over the last three and a half years to establish a range of new buildings on the site which would increase the level of services that clients could be offered, and ensure that PBO was providing an excellent service for wider members of the public who use Parklea Park on a regular basis. CLS worked with PBO to access a Design Team, a contractor and funding to build a new Community Garden Hub, situated within a new Hub campus overlooking the river Clyde. Work is due to be completed on the first phases in late summer and will include a new training kitchen/café/meeting space/ new hard and soft landscaping, new retail space and workshop space, a new bike storage and maintenance building and a new Changing Places Toilet. In total this work has cost almost £2,200,000 to complete with funding being accessed by 18 individual funders.
