Demographic Profiles and Motivational Factors of Resettled African Refugees Participating in Community Food Gardening Initiatives in Post-Brexit United Kingdom.

Abstract

Community food gardening has emerged as a critical intervention addressing human insecurity and supporting refugee integration, yet limited research exists on the specific demographic profiles and motivational factors driving African refugee participation in these initiatives. The aim of this study is to identify and describe the demographic profiles and motivational factors of resettled African refugees participating in community food gardening initiatives in post-Brexit UK. Using a qualitative explanatory research approach with supporting quantitative data, the study engaged 12 participants in Leicester, UK, including 10 gardening participants, and 2 program Experts/Support Providers. Data collection utilized in-depth and key informant interviews, using Otter.ai recorder and Transcriber while thematic analysis was conducted using QDA Miner software. Key findings showed that the gender representation of the resettled refugees Participants were of equal (50% male, 50% female) The age range was 34 to 57 years (mean = 41.4 years, median = 39.5 years), indicating focus on working-age adults, -with diverse educational background spanning from no formal through primary to tertiary levels. Key motivational factors included cultural food security (89.3%), social connection and community building (81.7%), mental health and wellbeing (78.4%), economic empowerment (64.2%), and maintenance of cultural identity (73.6%). Post-Brexit policy changes have intensified refugees' reliance on community-based integration mechanisms, with gardening initiatives serving as crucial spaces for cultural preservation and adaptation. The findings while highlighting the demographic profile and motivational factors in engaging in community food gardening practice, underscore the potential of community food gardening as a holistic intervention addressing multiple dimensions of their human security for resettled African refugees in the UK.