Disability, Climate and Community: An Insights Report on Our Climate & Disability Project

Over the past year, Redcatch Community Garden has been proud to take part in the Climate and Disability Commission, delivered as part of the Community Climate Action Project coordinated by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership and funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund.

This work placed Disabled people at the heart of local climate action, focusing on food, nature, wellbeing and community connection. We are now pleased to share the incredible Insights Report, which captures what we did, what we learnt and practical tips for other organisations hoping to do similar work.

About the project

We were commissioned to deliver food and nature-based activities with and for Disabled people, in line with the priorities identified by Bristol’s Disabled community through the Community Climate Action Plan. This plan supports Bristol’s commitment to a just transition, ensuring that climate action is inclusive, fair and community-led.

As a Charitable Community Benefit Society, our mission is to bring people together to learn, socialise, share skills and experiences and support physical and mental health and wellbeing. This project allowed us to build on our existing offer whilst developing new, Disability-focused activities and partnerships.

What we did

Over the course of the year, we delivered a wide range of activities, adapting them as we listened to the needs, interests and strengths of our Disabled community members. These included:

• Accessible cooking sessions for Disabled adults and children with SEND, often in partnership with local schools and Disability organisations

• Food production and distribution, with a weekly group of Disabled people planning, cooking and sharing fresh and frozen meals with others

• Our weekly Community Lunch, providing free, freshly prepared meals alongside social connection and access to support services

• Wellbeing in the Garden (formerly Gardening for Clean Air), a weekly group offering gardening, food growing and wellbeing activities

• Art Together, an art therapy group for people with dementia and their carers, using nature as inspiration for creativity and conversation
  

Flexibility was key. Some plans changed as we learnt what worked best, for example developing a weekly meal preparation project led by Disabled people, rather than preparing boxed meals in one-off cooking sessions. This responsiveness allowed participants to build confidence, skills and ownership over the activities.

Impact and outcomes

The project supported hundreds of people to engage with food, nature and community in meaningful ways. Participants told us they valued:

• Opportunities to spend time in nature

• Increased social interaction and a sense of belonging

• Learning and practising new skills

• Feeling supported, welcomed and not overwhelmed
  

Many people who first came to the Garden through this project have continued to attend other activities, volunteer or move into education and training. Partnerships with 18 local schools and Disability organisations helped us reach new audiences and strengthen our community network.

Martin’s Story

One of the most powerful parts of this work has been hearing directly from participants. In the report (and as you may remember from a previous blog) Martin shares how joining the Wellbeing in the Garden group helped him through grief, loneliness and mental health challenges, providing structure, connection and a renewed sense of purpose.

His story highlights how access to nature, peer support and flexibility can make a profound difference, not just to individuals but to the wider community.

What we learnt

The report includes honest reflections on what worked well, the challenges we faced and how we addressed them. Key learnings include:

• Accessibility benefits everyone, not just those engaging directly in Disability-focused work

• Relationships and peer support are as important as activities themselves

• Embedding climate conversations through food and nature can be more effective than leading with climate-focused language

• Accessibility is an ongoing journey requiring time, resources and active listening
  

The report also shares practical tips for other organisations including being flexible, building on existing strengths, providing clear information, considering travel and access needs and offering drop-in options alongside pre-booked sessions.

What’s next

Many of the activities developed through the commission are continuing, either unchanged or with small adaptations. We are building on our new exciting partnerships, awaiting the outcomes of accessibility audits led by Disabled people and continuing to embed learning about Disability and accessibility across all our work.

Our confidence and understanding have grown and we remain committed to listening, learning and challenging barriers wherever they exist.

Read the full report

Click here to read the full Report and explore the activities, data, case studies and our recommendations in more detail. Thank you for reading and we look forward to seeing you at the Garden soon! 💚