Community
Eden Gardens has a community mission to improve the quality of life in the wider community through horticulture and education. Eden is actively involved in the community in many ways and encourages members of the public, staff and suppliers to join in our endeavours. Each year we hold 4 fundraising morning teas to support our chosen charities, Father Chris Riley’s Youth off The Streets and Cancer Council NSW.
These are run with the help of local community volunteers.
Contact annaa@edengardens.com.au if you would like to become an Eden Volunteer or for more information
Eden Foundation
The Eden Foundation is a philanthropic trust established in 2008 as the charitable branch of Eden Gardens with the mission to build community, connecting disengaged youth with the natural environment.
- To fulfil this mission the Foundation proudly supports a range of organisations including Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets, Cancer Council NSW, Settlement Services International through the Ignite program, Cancer Council Queensland and Youth Outreach Services of the Salvation Army in Queensland.
- The work of the Foundation compliments Eden Gardens Environmental and Social endeavours, improving the quality of life in many disadvantaged communities across Eastern Australia.
- Since 2008 the Eden Foundation and Eden Gardens together have donated over $1.5 million dollars to our chosen charities.
YOUTH OFF THE STREETS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Since 2008 the Eden Gardens has provided an annual scholarship for a young person experiencing disadvantage through the YOUTH OFF THE STREETS – SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. These young people are talented and determined, but lack the support network or financial means to achieve their education goals..
Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets
Through traineeships, excursions, work experience and fund raising events, we work with Youth Off The Streets to support disconnected youth as they turn their lives around.
Cancer Council NSW
As we are all about outdoor living, we promote sun awareness and cancer prevention through education, fundraising events and remembrance functions in support of Cancer Council NSW.
Eden Gardens is also home to the Daffodil Garden a place of remembrance for those who have been touched by cancer and honours those who support Cancer Council NSW.
Ignite
The Eden Foundation works with Settlement Services International (SSI) and its Ignite® program along with the UTS Business School to support passionate entrepreneurs from refugee backgrounds establish and scale-up businesses.
Youth Outreach Service
Eden Gardens Carseldine works with the Salvation Army's Youth Outreach Services (YOS) in Brisbane, to support young people who are “at risk” of homelessness, or are homeless and in need of support.
Through donations of plants and fundraising we support these young people as they work to turn their lives around.
Community Greening
Eden Gardens supports Community Greening, an initiative of the Botanic Gardens Trust and NSW Department of Housing, by regularly providing plants and materials for communal gardening projects within disadvantaged communities. Since 2011 the Eden Foundation has donated $600,000 to support Youth Community Greening, an off-shoot of Community Greening. Through this program Eden has helped established more than 120 school and community garden projects and reached more than 21,000 individuals living in communities in need.
Easy Care Gardening
Eden Gardens supports this local volunteer gardening service which helps elderly and disadvantaged people remain independent and stay in their homes longer.
Youth Connections
Eden Gardens provides work placement opportunities in hospitality and horticulture to young people through Youth Connections, who have the mission of 'Turning Education into Jobs!'. They do this by supporting young people aged 13-19 across Sydney and the Central Coast, to access employment, education, training and recreational opportunities so they can reach their full potential.
St Edmunds Schools
Since 2013 Eden has offered wonderful year 12 students from St Edmunds College, Wahroonga, the opportunity of work experience in our garden centre.
In 2019 students were also involved in creating a garden sculpture as part of Eden Unearthed. A year 11 student has brailled some of the sculpture labels, making the exhibition more accessible to all.
