About Us

The Red Shed Project provides a service for people living with dementia and their carers. 

Our experienced workshop leaders are trained in horticulture and horticultural thereapy and are supported by a team of experienced volunteers.  Together they deliver garden-based activities and experiences aimed to improve and enhance physical and mental health, well being and alleviate loneliness and isolation.

Gardening is one of the most popular past-times in the UK and Horticultural Therapy is a proven way of helping people benefit from engaging with the garden.  We adapt activities to provide sensory stimulation, exercise, promote a sense of purpose and achievement.  Our activities range from growing flowers, fruit and vegetables to garden crafts. 

Our services are all fully funded and free to the user. If you are interested in joining a Garden Club or finding out more about anything we do – please contact us. Details on our Contact Us page.

Attending workshops at The Red Shed provides many benefits including

  • Getting Active – being active in the garden can keep you fit and and improve your muscle strength.  Keeping strong can improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.  If you are working from a chair you are using upper body muscles and improving grip and fine motor skills. (handling ability)
  • Learning – we love to try new things at The Red Shed and it’s be proven that learning in an outdoor environment is easier as concentration, attention and memory all work better.

After attending one of our workshops Dorothy, who has Dementia, told us ‘I’ve had a lovely time I didn’t think I would be able to learn something new!’

  • Giving you time and skills to keeping our garden looking great for others to enjoy is great for self-esteem.  Also making something lovely like a hanging basket or growing something tasty all to take home for friends and family to enjoy mean that you are able to make a difference to others.
  • Connect with others – we work together and stop for a cuppa together, it’s a great chance to have social interaction in a supportive, understanding group. 
  • Taking notice – or being mindful – is enhanced by being in an outside space and surrounded by nature.  This is a proven way to lift mood, reduce stress and anxiety.

After another workshop, staff from a local care home reported;  ‘It was the best outing they had ever done’, one participant’s ‘whole mood lifted for several days as a result’

Our service is primarily offered in the Hertfordshire area, both from our own garden in Stevenage and out and about for other organisations.

Our site is based in the grounds of St Vincent’s Primary School in Stevenage.  We have created an accessible s’ garden where we provide a variety of sessions for those with Dementia; meeting their individual needs and abilities.  We also support and engage with the families and carers of people living with Dementia by including them in workshops and providing time just for them.

We are members of the  National Institue of Health and care Research.  ‘The NIHR funds local collaborations to support applied health and care research and research on implementation of health and care evidence into day-to-day practice. These are called NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs)’  We partner with the University of Hertfordshire and meet at our Dementia Involvment Group to help a variety of organisations and individuals who need lived experience to help with their research. (http://www.theredshed.garden/2021/02/09/having-and-opinion/)

 

We work with the Alzheimer’s Society and Stevenage Borough Council on the creation of Dementia Friendly Communities in Stevenage.

GOVERNANCE

Our staff and volunteers are all DBS checked.

Our Annual Accounts, Governing Documents, Safeguarding and Equality Policies are all available on request.

The Project is a registered charity (1202545) funded by grants and donations and run with charitable principles with all profit reinvested back into the organisation