This innovative social enterprise is using horticulture to improve the wellbeing of the local community, benefiting up to 400 people – including school children, adults with learning difficulties and dementia patients – every week.
Project: An Tobar Community Wellness Centre and Social Farm
Location: Silverbridge, Co. Armagh
Sector: Health and Social Care
With six full-time staff and ten volunteers, An Tobar provides educational gardening programs in 11 local schools, social farming services for Southern Health & Social Care Trust, therapeutic horticulture for elderly people and work placements for adults with learning difficulties.
It also offers a range of nature-based programs for groups including Sure Start South Armagh, Carers’ Trust, Newry & Mourne Alzheimer’s Society and the WALD Centre, Cullyhanna.
Community Finance Ireland were delighted to collaborate with the organisation, providing a £30,000 loan from our Building Better Futures Fund to improve access and disabled facilities, expand its services and support the planting of 13,000 trees in a new community woodland.
“Initially we sought funding from High Street banks, but they just didn’t have the flexibility to accommodate our business model. The Building Better Futures Fund embraced the concept from the outset. We’re now in a position to significantly enhance our facilities and plan for our next phase of growth.”
Kathleen Finnegan, Founder An Tobar
