The benefits in helping offenders grow produce
GUERNSEY Probation Service has been working alongside Edible Guernsey to help rehabilitate people on community service by growing vegetables.
The service reported back to Home Affairs on the project earlier this month and gave members of the committee the chance to buy some of the produce to sample for themselves.
Of the 59 people currently on community service, 18 are spending at least part of their time working at the probation services greenhouse and vegetable plot at Edible Guernsey.
‘The greenhouse can be worked in all year round so is a great asset for us,’ said community service officer Sharon McCarthy.
‘We have lots of different produce being grown and will diversify more next year.’
The majority of produce is donated to the welfare team at the food bank.
The probation service also sells a certain amount to allow the project to be cost neutral.
The probation service have been working with the charity for a number of years, but last year took on a dedicated plot.
Chief probation officer Geraldine Martin said the ideal situation would be a dedicated welfare area including kitchens, so vocational skills such as food hygiene and kitchen portering that offenders could use in employment could also be taught.
‘What we find with our offenders is they tend to grow up in quite dysfunctional family environments,’ she said.
‘So some of the things that may be the norm for lots of people, growing flowers and vegetables, just aren’t for many offenders.
‘They don’t get those opportunities to learn from parents or grandparents about skills that so many of us take for granted.
‘I’ve worked with offenders over the years and they’re fascinated by being able to grow things and getting out into the countryside,’ she said.
‘So for them to be able to learn how to grow something, to nurture something, is really just mind-blowing.’
