Not sure about your area, as I'm classed as West Midland, but I'd at least try the following for starters:
Town council, Borough or County Council, Local Community Action Groups (CAB or similar organisations or your local library could hold lists of grant giving or charitable bodies), local or regional food groups such as Rural Hubs, Regional Food Groups (is Taste North East one where you are?), National Trust (although they are strapped for cash), Princes Trust (if you are young enough and 60 years junior on your plot!), your local supermarkets (they all want to jump on the "local food" bandwaggon), local Chamber of Trade or Commerce (depending on what they call themselves), contact you local councillor or the town's mayor or MP - a do gooding exercise is always good for their profile - and don't forget your local press - write a good press release (based on the 5 w's in no particular order who, what, when, why, where (we are the local allotment....need help....problems with our drainage...at John Harrison Street (opps - sorry John it just slipped out after reading the book - hope I don't get barred from the site
... etc.), and if all else fails, try some benevolent individuals in the town, or celebs who have a know passion for their gardening.
No promises for guarenteed results on the above, but if you don't ask, you don't get....also very important - if you get a negative from your efforts, always ask the person or body you're consulting if they can suggest anywhere else you can try - its your next lead - (e.g. some of your older allotment partners might be ex services who might just have a trust fund to help their members along....you never know ...and good luck (sorry its a long one)
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April 01, 2008, 09:09