The Bounce Back Foundation's 'Untying the Knot' Garden at the 2014 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is a reflection on the challenges faced by people being released from prison. Bounce Back, and the charity's collaborators, Walworth Garden Farm and Changing Paths hope that the garden will help visitors to understand how important support, training and above all, employment are in helping people unravel the difficulties they've had getting their lives back on track. Participants on the Bounce Back programmes will be available during the show to tell visitors more about their achievements. 

Designed by Frederic Whyte, previous Gold Medal winner at Chelsea, the garden's creative planting shows how lives are changed when people are supported in learning skills that lead to jobs when they are released from prison, and how this helps reduce re-offending. Whyte commented:

“The garden is inspired by the words of Carl Bart: Though no-one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. It 'unties the knot' often faced by ex-offenders. Through the use of plant form, colour and texture, it tells the story of how Bounce Back's painting and decorating enterprise works with ex-offenders to create new and fulfilling lives.”

The garden is divided into three sections. The first section, sculptured earth and turf, represents the 'blank canvas', or fresh start, that the project offers, and plays on formal, minimalist and contemporary design. Section two, planted as an ornamental meadow, represents the 'raw materials', or inherent abilities that the project taps into. Muted flowering signifies a lack of confidence and uncertainty. The planting design is contemporary, and naturalistic. Section three, planted in bold painterly blocks of more saturated oranges and blues, with an increasing use of spires and uprights, illustrates how the project nurtures confidence and aspiration by building on its participants' abilities. The planting style is bold, contemporary, and colourful.

The sculpture at the centre of the garden, which bears the words 'An obstacle is often a stepping stone', the stone was created by Changing Paths and was provided by Portland Stone Firms.

 “Exhibiting at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Festival is a colourful way to communicate the wealth of talent that exists both amongst our participants and also amongst the organisations that work with them” said Francesca Findlater, CEO, “and through generous support, we have been able to create a visual narrative which reflects our mission to reduce re-offending”.

 “We saw this as a great opportunity to draw attention to our passion for the local green environment and demonstrate how we train and support people into employment in this profession” said Kevin Moore, CEO of Walworth Garden Farm. 

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

Interviews: Mark Burrell, Changing Paths trainee stonemason, along with Bounce Back participants, Frederick Whyte the designer and representatives from Walworth Garden Farm and Bounce Back CEO and founder Francesca Findlater will be available for interviews at the garden all day on Press Day 7th July, 2014 from 7am, Press day.  Refreshments will be served including early morning coffee, tea and croissants.

What will happen to the garden afterwards?  It's rolling to HMP Brixton.

When the show is over, the garden's message will live on as it is being donated to HMP Brixton, where it has been allocated 'pride of place' in one of London's most forward thinking prisons, representing the drive towards transforming rehabilitation. Donations are being sought to help cover the costs of relocating and re-creating the garden. Additional donations will be shared between all the organisations to continue their work to turn the obstacles people face on release, into stepping stones to the future.  We are really excited about its journey and will be aiming for £1 a metre on the 18,246 meters journey from Hampton Court to HMP Brixton - follow it online.

People can donate online and help us all turn obstacles into stepping stones at www.bouncebackproject.com/donate.

Social Enterprise Partnership.  As well as a celebration of reducing re-offending, the garden is a unique partnership of social enterprises all of whom have chosen to work together to communicate their common message 'change through training into employment'. Each of the organisations is a charity as well as a social enterprise and recognises that driving success through business can change lives for the better.

Bounce Back, founded in 2010, is a painting and decorating social enterprise as well as a training charity. It has long championed changing perceptions recognising that giving people a job on release from prison helps others to see them in a different light. The charity's 40 strong team works around London and the Home Counties, and is expanding as more people are trained in the Bounce Back centre in HMP Brixton, or in the community. 

Walworth Garden Farm, which trains and supports in its local community, is Bounce Back's horticultural partner, working tirelessly with the contractors to create the garden and train Bounce Back participants.

Changing Paths is a stonemasonry training and employment programme in HMP Rochester set up by the Wates Giving charity programme. 

For more information on Bounce Back, Changing Paths, or Walworth Garden Company
Francesca Findlater
fran@bouncebackproject.com
07770 648993

For press information please contact:

Felicity Beckett

Tel: 0208 877 4504

Email: felicity@representationplus.co.uk