FirstFruits is developing a community horticulture project in East London and the Medway Towns. The company aims to: Improve the environment by taking waste products, including food waste and green garden waste collected locally, out of the waste stream and recycling it into compost, which is then used in a horticultural project. We collect waste, make compost and grow plants to employ people from marginalised communities; We aim to deliver workshops to marginalised individuals with the hope of providing them with skills in horticulture that can help them seek paid employment in the new green economy. We work with people from marginalised communities, including people who are affected by homelessness; mental health issues; suffering from addictions; from vulnerable communities, including refugees and displaced persons; long-term unemployed; or have had issues with criminal justice by providing therapeutic work and training to give them a safe space in which to relax and give them skills which they can use to find stable, sustainable employment in land-based and new green industries. We also work with educational institutions to provide horticultural and sustainability workshops to school-age children from inner-city areas. To provide education and training on sustainability and permaculture to the general public; To work with other third sector entities to deliver training and workshops. In the period outlined, First Fruits has delivered: We have collected several tonnes of green waste and food waste and turned this into compost, which has been used on horticultural projects to teach people about growing food and to grow produce. We have improved sections of the buildings we have been working on and are improving public access. We have worked and trained around 12 individuals: several affected by social isolation, some minors from marginalised communities and one ex-offender We have conducted a public workshop on aspects of horticulture and permaculture and have delivered horticultural training to an NHS service organisation that deals with people who have mental and physical health issues.

We have engaged with our stakeholders on the type of activities that we have delivered and worked with volunteers from the stakeholder organisations on delivering training. We have talked with funding agencies explaining what we have achieved this year, as well as being in continued communications with other stakeholders, including the civil society organisations we work with, which include schools, charities, churches and homeless services. Our most important stakeholders are the people we work with on a day-to-day basis. This isn’t just an 8 AM to 4 PM relationship; we have been involved in supporting them through their life and work challenges and positively intervening when we have felt we needed to. Steps: Constant formal and informal verbal communications, including periodic face-to-face meetings, where we have updated stakeholders on work progress Planning of events, workshops and work schedules with the stakeholders as required Maintaining a line of direct communication Making sure we follow up with stakeholders after the period of engagement has been completed. Result: Maintained a good relationship with stakeholders

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration