Richard Burns, client at Street Homeless Prevention Team Task Force Volunteer Project
Richard got involved with the Task Force Volunteer project 18 months ago. Here he explains how his life has changed since then and how being involved in the Places of Change garden has helped him to focus on his future and develop a supportive social circle with others involved in the project...
I’ve had a difficult few years since losing my job in 2005. Before I became homeless, I was employed as a drainage engineer and owned my own house. Things started to go wrong after I lost my driving licence for drink driving; eventually I found myself in prison for driving without a licence and was forced to sell my home. I’ve always been a heavy drinker but I managed to hold down employment and keep my drinking to evenings and weekends.
After I left prison I didn’t have anywhere to go and found myself living in a hostel. It became increasingly difficult to manage my drinking because I was feeling low and didn’t have much to do with my time. I started to drink more heavily and moved onto stronger alcohol. Unfortunately, about 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with early onset Korsakoffs Syndrome which affects my short term memory.
I am now making some changes in my life and things are beginning to get better. I am living in a supported housing project where staff help me to manage my drinking. I got involved with the Task Force Volunteer Project about 18 months ago and started working down the allotment in the summer last year. I go down there regularly and really enjoy spending time with the others and having a focus again. I have also been to service users groups run by the project and have been involved in community gardening projects.
What activities have you been involved with during your involvement with the Allotment Volunteer Project?
There are a whole group of us working on the allotment all with different strengths and abilities. I tend to do a lot of the physical labour such as digging, paving and fence building as I’m quite fit. I have also been involved in planting seeds and re-potting.
What is your personal involvement in the Chelsea Flower Show and how are you working as a team?
We are growing turnips, Calendula, beetroot, lettuce and dill. We all helped plant the seeds and water them during the drier weather. We have kept them in the poly tunnel but I think we’re moving them out this week.
There are 10 of us involved and we ended up getting a bit of a production line going for the seed planting. The watering has been done on a rota basis. We all work well together and one to the most enjoyable parts of the project is spending time with the other participants. It gets us all out and we have a real laugh. We all meet up every Friday and have a barbeque for lunch – a well deserved break from the work.
What does being involved in the Chelsea Flower Show mean to you? How has it changed your outlook and approach to life?
My involvement with the show has provided a real focus and has helped me stay sober. It’s great to be involved in something so well known. I’m feeling really motivated and have recently got involved in another gardening project managed by the housing project where I live. We have secured funding to transform the house garden into an organic growing area and I am looking forward to using the skills I have acquired at the allotment. We have completed all the plans and hope to start work next week.
And what about your colleagues?
Everyone has enjoyed the experience and are really excited about going up to the show and seeing the final project. We now know what Calendula is!
Two of my colleagues are currently doing NVQ’s in Horticulture at college and are particularly interested in the NOCN credits which we can gain as part of the project. Eight of my colleagues have chosen to be assessed for two units of the Level 1 award (Sowing and Growing Techniques and Team Work Skills) and could use these as a means of entry to further study or employment.
What are your plans for the future?
I have reduced my drinking and hope to move into my own accommodation soon. Remaining involved with the Street Homeless Prevention Team’s allotment will be an important part of this transition so I can keep busy and remain motivated to manage my drinking.
Do you have any messages for people who might be thinking about getting involved in the Chelsea Flower Show in the future?
We’ve learnt a lot and have had a real laugh. It’s good to work together with others and focus on getting some of our plants into the show. There’s an opportunity for people to get a formal qualification if they want, which could lead to employment. For others, like me, the social side of things has been great, getting me out of the house and spending time with others.
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