Claudia Winkleman finds out how Bloom Sheffield blossomed

Kendall said, “Claudia is the first celebrity I’ve ever met. When we took over the allotments six years ago there were no roofs on any of the buildings and the weeds were taller than me. So, to have Claudia Winkleman in our little shed just felt crazy!

“She was so lovely; really warm and friendly. I didn’t feel nervous talking to her at all.”

Claudia was accompanied by Tanita, a National Lottery player from Sheffield. Tanita was keen to find out how funding made possible by National Lottery players like her helps good cause projects in her area thrive.

During their visit, Claudia and Tanita got stuck into gardening and spoke to some of Bloom Sheffield’s volunteers and participants in its therapeutic horticulture groups. The project is a place where women and non-binary people can take care of their mental health and wellbeing, learn about flowers and gardening and feel less isolated.

Claudia visited Bloom Sheffield in her role as The National Lottery’s newest ambassador. The beloved British television and radio presenter, known for her sharp wit, charisma and unmistakable fringe, is helping us support and celebrate the incredible difference National Lottery players make to communities across the UK.

Claudia is shining a spotlight on the life-changing impact made possible every time someone plays The National Lottery. It’s Because of You that amazing projects like Bloom Sheffield can go from strength to strength. From funding grassroots projects to supporting the arts, heritage and sport, amazing things happen when you play The National Lottery.

When Kendall started Bloom Sheffield in 2019, she was 24 and working as a special educational needs (SEN) teacher, a job she found “incredibly challenging”. She added, “I was struggling with my mental health as I’d just moved to Sheffield and didn’t really have any friends or a network that could support me.”

Spending an hour every evening on an allotment helped Kendall relax. “I decided that everyone should have the opportunity to reap the benefits of being outside and gardening,” she said. “I took over an allotment in the heart of Sheffield and organised a little community gardening session that three people turned up to. We just kept going and have developed enormously since then.”

Nowadays, Bloom Sheffield has two community gardens where women and non-binary people can learn gardening skills and two production gardens where it grows the flowers it sells in its shop. Proceeds from the flower sales go straight back into the project. Bloom Sheffield has more than 60 volunteers and, in a typical week, about 70 women and non-binary people attend its community sessions, therapeutic workshops and mum-and-toddler groups.

Kendall is a firm believer in the mental health benefits of gardening. “Growing something from a seed and selling it really builds self-esteem,” she explained. “It’s really empowering. It’s also great to have an activity that’s collaborative but doesn’t require you to talk if you don’t want to. There's no pressure to speak, but you can relax and open up if you choose to.”

Why does Bloom Sheffield focus on women and non-binary people? “Women face a unique set of challenges and horticulture is traditionally a bit of a boys’ club,” said Kendall. “Having a women-only environment means there’s no pressure; we work together, grow together and figure it out. What we’ve achieved is amazing – a thriving space.”

Kendall makes it clear National Lottery support has played a crucial role in helping Bloom Sheffield blossom. In fact, she has a photograph showing Bloom Sheffield’s three directors in tears when they found out it had been awarded three years of funding from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities fund.

Kendall said, “This is funding for core costs, and it’s really helped us with our consistency; to know that we’ll be open for another three years, knowing we’ll be able to deliver and that we have the space to grow, literally and figuratively. It’s totally changed the game for us and we’re so incredibly grateful.”

20th October 2025