The Dundonald Garden Maintenance Scheme was a solution to a serious problem within the area where vulnerable individuals (those with disability or those over the age of 65) faced difficulties in maintaining their gardens or hedges and looked to the Housing Executive for help.

However, NIHE could not offer this service but could work in Partnership with a Business willing to deliver this in a funding partnership.

David Drysdale who is Executive Chairman of Inspire Business Centre and former Mayor of Castlereagh, recognised this issue while out canvassing during the 2016 election. Following a discussion with the NIHE, the Garden Maintenance project was born with Inspire match-funding the scheme.

The Garden Maintenance Scheme began with a pilot project of some 20 homes within the Dundonald area for those who required assistance with grass-cutting and hedge-trimming. The scheme, which is funded and managed by the Housing Executive, is now inclusive of 40 homes and runs from April until October during the growing season. In addition to the maintenance of hedges and grass, laundry drying areas and the odd tree have also been cleared and maintained in order to allow tenants to make use of the drying area as open space.

In the future, Inspire is hoping to further develop the scheme into an entrepreneurial training programme for young people in the area and create a virtuous circle of business and community success!