On behalf of SSAFA and the flagship Gordon Messenger Centre (GMC), we would like to invite you to be one of a maximum of 250 participants to take part in a unique and impactful project building the June Best Community Garden ‘By Veterans for Veterans’.
The GMC is dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel and veterans, and their families. The project is the first of its kind in the UK with the purpose of providing a tranquil and therapeutic space fostering relaxation, connection, and healing for our military and former military community.
Community and camaraderie are at the heart of the project. A committee of veterans is already in place to advise on the design and other logistics.
You can expect the project to be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding experience, during which you will learn new skills and make new friends.
The construction will predominantly involve timber and take place over seven days from Wednesday 17th July - Thursday 25th July (Saturday 20th July is a project day). The garden will be formally opened on the Corps’ Families Day in September, Project days will be 17th – 20th and 23rd – 25th July (inclusive).
SSAFA is sponsoring the build of the project, made possible by a generous legacy gift by former SSAFA Devon member, June Best in 2022.
The garden is being designed and delivered by international community development company, Splash Projects (veteran based) which is based in Exmouth and whose expert team will facilitate the build.
Veterans of any age or ability are invited to be part of the experience. There will be a range of ways to help on the day from woodwork to planting, and no prior experience is required.
Everyone who takes part will be integral to creating a legacy for veterans, families, and the serving forces community. It will be a multi-functional, wheelchair accessible space involving sensory elements, including a fire area and a water feature, a growing garden, and plenty of seating.
We are expecting to be oversubscribed for the project. The invite will initially be for the military community Including families and friends of veterans and other interested parties.
SSAFA - GMC - June Best Community Garden – This document is produced to assist with the many questions that will fall out of this request.
If you can share the E mail and poster that would be a great benefit to this project, the QR Code on the poster will be the main place for all volunteers to register their interest including what days they are available, the volunteers can register for more than 1 day and when we have the known interest then contact will be made a month prior to the project date suggesting what day they have been selected for.
To sign up use this form - SSAFA Volunteer Registration Form
Any further queries should be directed to the email address on the poster (below) and will be replied to within 7 days.
If you have any changes with your availability, please contact through the email on the poster.
