National Allotment Society welcomes new mentors to its team

The mentors, who volunteered as part of ARI, will work alongside the Society’s existing Regional Representatives in delivering advice to those interested in creating, managing or working allotments. As with their previous role, the mentors will continue to facilitate the Allotment Officers’ Forums, providing a space in which local authority staff, responsible for allotment provision, can meet and discuss ideas.

New mentors

·         Paul Neary (South East)

·         John Doherty (North East)

·         Phil Gomersall (Yorkshire and Humberside)

·         Grant Smith (London)

·         Alan Hull (North West)

·         David Kenyon (East Midland)

·         Martin Moore (South West)

Donna McDaid, National Secretary for the Society said, “We are so thrilled to welcome the mentors to the Society. Their work as part of ARI has made a real difference to the way people view allotments and how growing your own food is valued in communities. It is incredible to think that land which was until ten years ago neglected and viewed as an eyesore, is today productive and helping to feed families up and down the country.

“The mentors will play an integral role in helping the Society forge stronger links with local authorities and potential landlords; and come the New Year we will be able to release details of a new mentor project, which will carry the name, Allotment Development Initiative (ADI). We are serious about the development of allotments, and between our regional reps and the mentors we know we’ll be able to bring even more plots into use over the coming months and years.”

The Society is currently recruiting for four new mentors to join the team and help fill vacancies in the East of England, Southern England, the West Midlands and Wales. Anyone interested in volunteering their time should contact Di Appleyard (Mentor Co-ordinator) on 0117 971 0515 (Wednesday and Fridays) or diane@nsalg.org.uk