Community & Prison Growing Project

This project brings together HMP Birmingham and local community groups to grow and share fresh food across the city. The idea is simple but powerful: prisoners at HMP Birmingham start plants from seed, and once they’re ready, BOSF distributes them to 10 community growing groups. These groups then nurture the crops, share skills, and pass the harvest on to local people who need it most – from food banks to luncheon clubs. Building on the success of our project in 2024, where prisoners reported improvements to their wellbeing and one group even turned a backyard into a growing space, we realised the project was more than just establishing new growing spaces, the delivery of fresh veg and the discovery of new food traditions; we realised this was about growing skills, confidence, and connections across Birmingham. 

Originally supported by the RHS, this project was so impactive that we sought further funds from Birmingham Public Health to continue it for a further year.  The initiative gives prisoners a chance to learn new skills while making a real difference in the community, and it helps local groups spread the benefits of urban food growing.