Project
The allotment project was first developed in 2015 by CWELL students undertaking a community university partnership Diploma programme in Community Wellness, Empowerment, Leadership and Life Skills (CWELL.) The site was obtained from Limerick City and County Council in St Mary’s Park and it provides eight allotments for the local community. The allotments were set up following consultation by the CWELL students with local residents regarding what they would like to see introduced in their neighbourhood.
This project aims to provide opportunities for community residents to plant and harvest their own fruit and vegetables in local allotments. The project team hope that the allotments will encourage healthy lifestyles, reduce isolation, improve the health and mental wellbeing of the community and become a source of happiness, wellbeing and pride.
Local community residents, allotment owners, members of the CWELL graduate network.
Since 2015, eight allotments are actively been developed by local community members. A key objective is to give community groups and organisations the opportunity to access resources in their local university. We support our community partners to effectively engage with faculty and students. Community members are provided with information and resources. Evaluation of their experiences of engaging with UL faculty and students and meeting project expectations is undertaking at specific timelines throughout the practicum. Community Evaluation of the project is designed into the project from start to finish. As part of their assessment, students present a briefing to their community partner setting out the outputs and outcomes of the project.
Learning
Activities will involve practical on-the-ground engagement with the local community in St Marys Park. Student activities will include undertaking research around types of vegetables which are suitable for growing in the area, timelines for sowing crops. Students will work with local residents on allotment preparation and engage in hands on experience working in the allotments. They will produce a booklet on the allotments ( including information on types of vegetables that grow and maintenance of allotment patches). Students will also work with local community on events to raise awareness and market allotments within local community.
This practical experience enables students to learn how to work with the local community to help them sustain a local, inner city horticultural project. They will learn about teamwork and professional skills required in a variety of different roles. This placement also offers a learning platform which will enable students to focus on self-development and self-assessment of personal and professional skills and graduate attributes. Students will also be supported to articulate their ideas to a range of audiences within different cultural frameworks and setting and be provided with opportunities to make substantial and positive contributions to society.
Practicum students undertaking this project will work with local members of St Mary’s community and members of the CWELL graduate network. You will also work collaboratively with your peers. Academic supervision of the project work will be carried out by the responsible academic for your project.
Both formative and summative assessment methods will be used. Assessments will be designed to complement the interactive teaching and learning approaches. In particular, methods conducive to workplace assessment will be employed. These will include weekly reflection diaries, a group presentation, a reflective assignment and self-assessment activity.
Students will be expected to produce a community briefing report and present their project outputs and outcomes to their community partner.