The Keep Growing Aberdeen Project (KGA) evaluation report sets out the evidence for the impact of the project in the delivery of local priorities aimed at:
- Improving physical health and mental wellbeing of people,
- Maximising disused outdoor space to increase food growing opportunities,
- Supporting local volunteering opportunities beyond the pandemic and improving community food growing spaces by 2023.
The report also outlines the impact of KGA as part of The Aberdeen city food growing strategy 2020-2026 which aims to provide everyone in the city to grow their own food and promote the benefits of food growing, healthy foods, and a quality environment across the city.
The project outcomes inform the strategic plans of the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP):
- Prevention, resilience, communities, and connection (AHSCP 2019-2022)
- Improving quality of life- Improving mental health and wellbeing (ACHSCP strategic plan 2022-2025 draft)
The report contains account of the processes, learning, reach and perceived impact of the project in priority neighbourhoods during the pandemic. The results from the project has shown that community food growing, and gardening activity could be effective in improving mental health and wellbeing and could be used to support people to recover from long term effects of COVID-19. See data below.
