Meanwhile, the Rural Activities Garden Centre (RAGC), in Colham, west London – a haven for disadvantaged people – is facing closure. This announcement has left our volunteers—and their families—devastated. The centre has been an incredible asset and resource for learning disabled adults in the area for many years. Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet is due to discuss its future on June 26. The possible closing has raised fears of a contentious battle over the home. In response, over 4,500 residents have signed a petition calling on the council to reverse its decision and save the RAGC.
For nearly 40 years, volunteers such as Wayne have mined their summers and winters into the community-run garden centre. It’s now an indispensable fixture of their everyday living. Perhaps more importantly though, the RAGC is a supportive creative community. It creates the shared experience and understanding of mission, collegiality, and purpose that countless people rely on and find their identities through. Terry, another long-time volunteer, articulated the ways the centre has saved his own life.
“My mum got ill with dementia and I had to look after her, when she died I was suggested to come here, it’s now the only place I come to.” – Terry
Terry’s father, Stuart, fought for the RAGC to be available for his son and others like him. “We all need this place, what it does for people, and the community it brings. We need it,” he stated. Stuart added that the garden centre serves as “one thing that gives them a purpose in life,” highlighting its role in enhancing the quality of life for learning disabled adults.
Needless to say, the threat of closure of the RAGC has sent shock waves through the volunteer community and their families. As it does for many, Terry says the garden centre has been a lifeline. “If this place closes I won’t be doing anything again, it makes me upset,” he said, reflecting the sentiments shared by his fellow volunteers.
The RAGC serves as a launching point for their professional development and work, but nurtures the social and creative connections between its participants. So far, the 9,000 volunteers who’ve passed through the centre have developed a close bond with each other based on their shared experiences. Wayne noted his love for both the work and the people he interacts with daily, indicating that the closure would have far-reaching effects on their well-being.
As Hillingdon Council’s decision date approaches, local residents remain optimistic. Statehouse advocates think their advocacy can have a cost on the ground with local officers. The RAGC has had powerful bipartisan support. This really speaks to its importance, not just as a workplace, but as a cherished community center for development adults with learning disabilities.
