Radstock’s SWALLOW charity has been helping people with learning difficulties gain gardening skills suitable for employment as part of a recent project.

SWALLOW’s Work Skills Horticultural Scheme has enabled people to learn more about plant life cycles, food production and general garden maintenance, and every year they plant and sell hanging baskets.

The members involved in the scheme can then progress onto the Gardening in the Community project as part of their employment pathway.

Gardening in the Community creates employment opportunities for those members that have gained horticultural skills. They provide garden maintenance to some of the most vulnerable, older or disabled people in the community.

Funding allows for four members along with two support workers to provide fortnightly gardening sessions. As well as creating paid employment, it also benefits local older people. In some cases, it enables the person to stay in their home for longer safe in the knowledge that they have a little support with their garden.

It also provides company to the person and some lovely intergenerational relationships have been formed. Excellent feedback from the people that have been provided with the service indicate the wider wellbeing benefits and social connections this project brings.

Last year they had a waiting list for the gardening service, showing the importance of, and the demand for the project. This year SWALLOW is already scheduling for current clients and are hoping to expand the service to those on the waiting list.

Connaught Freemasons in Midsomer Norton are also proud to support this Gardening in the Community Project, and on Wednesday, April 9, at SWALLOW’s Radstock Café, charity leaders were pleased to donate £500 to enable the expansion of the service to others across the community.

SWALLOW was founded in 1993 and supports teenagers and adults with learning disabilities to live life to the full.