Grow is looking to raise £3m. for big redevelopment project
A HUGE redevelopment project at Grow Ltd has been given the go-ahead by planners, but now the charity has to raise around £3m. to make it a reality.
Guernsey’s Rural Occupational Workshop aims to give islanders with learning disabilities the opportunity to learn new skills and build confidence in a safe learning environment that is tuned to their needs.
From planting a seed, re-potting the shoot, watering the produce and selling the final product, Grow has been teaching horticultural skills for many years.
But now the needs of islanders are changing, and Grow wants to adapt to that change.
The charity has been given permission to demolish some of the old glasshouses and erect newer ones, as well as an administration and training hub and make better use of the outdoor space for selling produce, expanding the range that can be offered and finding new skills that the attendees can acquire.
One of these skills is carpentry and, because the charity is already a keen recycler, old crates can be stripped down and re-purposed in the new workshop to create bird boxes, bug boxes, bat boxes and more.
Assistant manager Jess Aughton explained that one of the key elements of the redevelopment is to teach more life skills as well as the horticultural skills that will continue.
‘Many of the crew live in assisted living facilities and are told that they can’t do something or have someone do it for them, so we will have a new and improved cleaning facility where they can wash their own overalls and be taught more about personal hygiene, if that’s something that they need,’ she said.
‘Our hope is that the time they spend here allows them to move on to future employment but of course they know they can always come back here if something doesn’t work out.’
Also there will be a catering area where crew members can learn the necessary kitchen skills for going out to work in hospitality.
Grow director Angus Bodman said this had been a culmination of six years of planning, so to receive planning permission without any conditions last Friday was excellent news.
‘There are lots of changes but ultimately it is still a workman’s style, there are no marble counters and gold taps, it’s simplistic but enhanced,’ he said.
It is anticipated that the whole build will take around 18 months, but now the fundraising challenge begins.
Director Marguerite Talmage is keen to raise £1.5m. by October next year and said this would give the charity confidence to get spades in the ground on the project.
‘In total we think we’re going to have to raise between £2.5m. and £3m. but everyone we’ve spoken to so far recognises the important role Grow has in the community and what it offers to those with learning difficulties.’
From the charity’s reserves and some initial fundraising just over £600,000 is already in the bank, but it is hoped the generosity of islanders will help bring this ambition into a reality. The aim is to take a holistic approach to supporting people with learning disabilities in all aspects of their lives.
Once the full redevelopment has taken place, it is hoped that the space could be shared with other charitable organisations who could also benefit from the location.
