Grants to Grow
Bursary Fund for disadvantaged 16-24 year olds
Applications Open 1st July 2024 – Close 31st July 2024
Sunshine Sunflower Foundation (SSF) are to convert to a Grant Making Charity now the founder and Shepley resident, Ian Lumb has decided to retire. He was 65 in June! Below is a snapshot of our achievements since 2020 up to present.
Covid-19 saw self-employed Landscape Gardener, Ian Lumb, take a struggling, disadvantaged youngster ‘under his wing’ to help him in local gardens. The young man thrived on horticultural activity and particularly on Ian’s patient, 1:1 championing. An impressed client helped Ian set up a foundation locally to establish a similar pathway for several more marginalised youngsters. Registered charity, Sunshine Sunflower Foundation (SSF) has been run by husband-and-wife team, Ian and Debbie Lumb. Debbie is the Director.
Over the years the charity has recruited 13 disadvantaged youngsters (16-24), offering a 12-month work placement with on-the-job training in landscape gardening. Participants have attended at least two days weekly and renumerated at age-related minimum wage. The remaining time was spent volunteering ‘hands-on’ in gardens or attending college. SSF have successfully supported youngsters recovering from COVID isolation, targeting mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. As we all know, hard gardening work in the fresh air helps establish routine and regulates sleep. The charity has also targeted reduction in neighbourhood antisocial behaviour, (youngsters feel less tempted to thieve, given their receipt of a wage). It has introduced them to gardening clients and championed employment opportunities in their own area, thereby collectively, promoting community cohesion.
Going forward with remaining charity funds, the board of Trustees would like to offer a £1000 grant to local disadvantaged youngsters to either start up their own business or support their studies at College or University.
To apply is easy. Simply complete the one-page application form and attach it to an email to Debbie Lumb - debbie@sunshinesunflower.org.uk.
Applicants need to explain how the grant money would be spent and supply receipts. The deadline for the application is 31st July 2024.
Grants will be awarded by BACS or cheque w/c 26th August and the money needs to have been spent by the end of September.
If there are any questions, please text or call Debbie on 07904 813 646 for further information. We expect the opportunity to be oversubscribed.
Download the application form and FAQ sheet below:
OUR STORY
Sunshine Sunflower Foundation is a charity that aims to help young people gain transferable skills, improve their mental health and learn to work with others through therapeutic horticultural activities.
Hands on learning is led by Ian Lumb: a self-employed landscape gardener with a wealth of experience and a passion for helping young people grow.
Teaching is also provided by Debbie Lumb who has worked in education throughout her career and now dedicates her time to showing our students what they can achieve, listening to their opinions and shaping our programmes around their needs.
OUR COMMUNITY
The people who work for us and with us are at the heart of our community and bring our charity to life. Below are some of the roles in our foundation:
OUR GALLERY
Even though SSF aims to give young people opportunity and experience- it is always our priority to make sure our students have fun! Below, you can see some of the things our students get up to at our site in Shepley and around the Huddersfield area:
