Financier Guy Hands and wife become new patrons of Grow
ISLANDERS are being asked to support Grow as the charity works to raise £1m. by October to redevelop its aged site.
The charity, Guernsey’s rural occupational workshop, provides a safe and secure working environment for people with learning and other disabilities.
But the current facilities off Route des Coutanchez, St Peter Port, are dated and need upgrading.
Planning permission has been granted to demolish some of the old glasshouses and erect new ones, as well as an administration and training hub and make better use of the outdoor space for selling produce.
The entire project is expected to cost £2.5m.
Grow chairman Mark Dunster explained the reason for the October fundraising target.
‘That will give us the confidence to get spades in the ground and begin demolishing the existing structures and replacing them with glasshouses, workshops and an administrative unit fit for the next 30 or 40 years,’ he said.
Financier Guys Hands and wife Julia, who is chairman and CEO of Hand Picked Hotels, have been announced as the patrons for the project.
Mrs Hands said Grow offered opportunities that were not available elsewhere in the island.
‘The trainees benefit not only from learning employable skills, but also communication and other life skills,’ she said.
‘This gives trainees the confidence to work as part of a team and to participate more fully in the community.’
She added that it was important islanders donated to help the scheme.
About 50 people attend Grow regularly, with attendees learning skills, primarily in horticulture. The redeveloped site will broaden learning opportunities, including retail, through additional sales areas, hospitality in an on-site training cafe, wood and craft skills, in purpose-built workshops, and a small laundry.
Mr Dunster said the current site was not suitable.
‘We ought not to have uneven surfaces,’ he said.
‘We ought not have to close down when the wind is above a certain speed.
‘We know if we had more state-of-the art facilities, not only could we help the people we already have, but also even more.’
Mr Dunster said when it came to running costs, half the money came from the States, a quarter from plant sales and a quarter from fundraising. However, government has not been able to support the redevelopment financially, meaning the charity must cover it.
Mr Dunster said that experienced horticulturist Rodney Brouard was giving advice about the project, which was helping to reduce some of their costs, but it was still an ambitious scheme.
The project has been delayed by Covid and by planning. It took four months to get planning permission.
Mr Dunster said it proved to be more challenging than expected, because horticultural projects like this were relatively rare.
He was very grateful to planning director Jim Rowles for his help navigating the planning policies.
It is hoped that if fundraising goes well, work could start later this year and be completed in early 2023.
n Anyone interested in supporting Grow’s redevelopment campaign is invited to contact director Marguerite Talmage on 07911 719081 or Grow manager Eddie Higgins on 721865 or email redevelopment@grow.gg.
