Beautiful community welfare garden in Devon

In 2020, the NAAFI Fund awarded WO2 Martin Ash RM a grant of £20,000 to develop a beautiful, community welfare garden at Quantock House in Taunton.

The goal was to turn a previously uninspiring garden area into a family-friendly space for children to play safely and adults to spend meaningful time, as well as contributing to the upkeep and maintenance of the area.

Work on the area began in September 2021 and now includes a planted patio, composite decking and several raised interactive beds, used by families to plant flowers and vegetables. This has also helped to create a safe space for parents and guardians to spend time together and seek support from the welfare team, with focus on reducing feelings of depression, anxiety and stress-related symptoms.

During an open day the families were invited to plant spring bulbs and vegetables and encouraged to return and check on their progress. Not forgetting taking them home to sample!

WO2 Martin Ash RM said about the project: “I would like to thank the NAAFI Fund and Urban and Rural Gardens for making this garden possible. It has given Quantock House a much more usable space and, in the future, we plan to host family picnics, Easter trails and much more.”

“I encourage serving personnel and their families to attend the garden and to take advantage of the benefits. Why not pop in to one of our coffee mornings, which are held every Thursday at 10am?”

Recent Projects

HMS Trumpeter gets a Caffeine Boost!

HMS Trumpeter gets a Caffeine Boost!

The crew of HMS Trumpeter, a small but mighty P2000 patrol vessel, are now enjoying a major perk thanks to a generous £650 grant from the NAAFI Fund. The grant was used to purchase a bean-to-cup coffee machine, a much-needed addition to the ship's galley. The new...

read more
New Equipment to Boost Adventure Training and Mental Health

New Equipment to Boost Adventure Training and Mental Health

URNU (University Royal Navy Unit) Birmingham has received a splashing good boost to its adventure training program, thanks to a £6,600 award from the NAAFI Fund. The grant was used to purchase kayaks, a kayak trailer and paddleboards, which will enable the unit to...

read more
Safe Space Opens for Service Victims and Families

Safe Space Opens for Service Victims and Families

The NAAFI Fund has donated £3,135 to support a Victim and Family Welfare Suite at the Victim Witness Care Unit in Portsmouth. The suite was created from a disused office, into a safe and comfortable space for Service victims and their families to speak freely and...

read more