Growability ~ growing independence

Growability links

Suggest a link? If you know of a site which you think should have a link listed here, please email details to . We are particularly interested in sites connected with disability & horticulture, but are also interested in sustainability, social firms, environment and conservation, horses and carriage driving, holiday/leisure, etc., and would consider suggestions of other subject areas. We would be grateful if sites with links listed here would carry reciprocal links within their pages.

Northumberland links
	We are regular visitors to this remarkable garden. The Duchess of Northumberland joined us for our 20^th anniversary celebrations at Hepscott Park on 21^st July 2005.
		Blyth community website
Bedlington local website		Local website includes trade directory
Chesters Walled Garden		The home of Hexham Herbs, this walled garden within the grounds of the Chesters is just of the Military Road, near Chollerford, about 11 miles from Ridley Hall.
Earth Balance 2000		Earth Balance 2000 is a sustainability project in south-east Northumberland. Sleekburn HTU is based on the Earth Balance 2000 site
Haltwhistle		Community site run by Haltwhistle Partnership.
The Horse Resource		Shop close to Sleekburn HTU selling horse-related items
Morpeth Herald		Newspaper local to Hepscott Park HSU
MorpethNet		Morpeth community website
News Post Leader		Newspaper local to Sleekburn HTU
North East Organic Growers		Neighbours of Sleekburn HTU, NEOG are organic growers and retailers based on the Earth Balance site, and run a successful vegetable box scheme.
Northumberland Care Trust		Our three Units are managed on behalf of NCC by the Northumberland Care Trust, an NHS organisation combining health and social services.
Northumberland County Council		Our three Units were formerly run by Northumberland County Council’s Social Services Department
		Northumberland Life is a brand new service which provides a lifeline to community groups across Northumberland.
Ridley Hall		The Hall itself (THS works within the grounds of the Hall) is used as a boarding wing for Haydon Bridge High School and as a conference centre during school holidays.
The Garden Station		Gardening courses are run from this former station building at Langley, on the old Hexham – Allendale line. Langley is about 3 miles from Ridley Hall.
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Disability & horticulture
www.growability.org.uk	Home page of our three Units. Growability is now a registered as a limited company and will manage some of the work – like the accredited training – that goes on within the Units.
Horticultural Skills Unit	The original of the three jointly managed Units linked by the Growability site. Hepscott Park, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 6NF (01670) 511560 email:
Tynedale Horticultural Service	The second to be established of the three jointly managed Units linked by the Growability site. The Lodge, Ridley Hall, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 7BP. (01434) 344933 mobile: 07718455578 email:
Sleekburn Horticultural Training Unit	The most recent of the three jointly managed Units linked by the Growability site. West Sleekburn Farm, Bomarsund, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 7AD. (01670) 530111 Email:
Blyth Star Enterprises	Organisation providing services principally for people with mental health needs. Partner in Stakeford Nurseries consortium.
Botton Village	Community established in the North York Moors for adults with learning disabilities which has been running since the 1950’s. Includes farms, horticulture, workshops, bakery, etc. About 350 people live there. Visited by THS in August 2003. Run by the Camphill Trust, based on the work of Rudolf Steiner.
	Growing Matters Horticultural Therapy Project in Morecambe, Lancashire. A non-profit making organisation providing horticultural related voluntary work for people with mental health problems.
Heeley City Farm	A city farm in Sheffield visited by 12 people from our Units in October 02. Seemed to have much in common with us.
Key Enterprises	Mental health charity at Longbenton, North Tyneside, which includes horticulture in its range of activities.
Kehelland Horticultural Centre	Kehelland provides horticultural work for people with learning disabilities and is located near Camborne in Cornwall.
	A charity providing training and occupation in horticulture and woodwork for people with learning disabilities at Northallerton in North Yorkshire which we have visited.
THRIVE	A charity promoting horticulture for people with disabilities and other disadvantaged people.
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Disability
	'Connects, the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities portal' is a worldwide, interactive, personalized forum for the sharing of information by people whose lives are touched by mental health problems and/or learning disabilities.
The Learning Disability Website	More relevant to residential services.
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities	Linked to the “Connects” site.
British Institute for Learning Disabilities	Useful site.
LDAF	Learning Disability Awards Framework
LD Links	Another site listing learning disability websites.
Mencap	National learning disability charity

Formal training
North East Open College Network	“Our main role is to value the achievements of adult learners by attaching external, quality assured accreditation to learning programmes. The accreditation reflects the accomplishments of adults, many of whom have not had a positive experience of education in the past and whose skills and abilities have often been overlooked.” We are now offering courses accredited by NEOCN
National Open College Network	The National body of which the above is a member.
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Social Firms
Social Firms Scotland	Social Firms Scotland exists to promote and develop new social firms throughout Scotland, and to help existing ones develop their capacity to create further employment for disabled people. It is a membership organisation, and is working at both national policy level and at local level.
Social Firms UK	The national support structure for the development of social firms in the UK, this site contains all details regarding information, events, membership and support available.
Forth Sector	Forth Sector believes that mental health and well-being can be promoted through work. They develop social firms and other initiatives that provide employment support. Forth Sector works primarily with people with mental health problems.
Falkland Backpackers - Fife	A social firm working mainly with people with mental health needs. They are running this backpackers hostel in Falkland, Fife.
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Horticulture
Alpine Garden Society
	Plant sales on-line, plant information and pictures.
Eden Project	An inspirational project involving huge “biomes” in a former china clay pit near St Austell in Cornwall, demonstrating the relationships between plants and people, with sustainability as a strong theme. Tynedale Horticultural Service visited the Eden Project on a 5 day trip to Cornwall in September 2001.
	Lots of useful information on this site.
	The following five sites all offer large listings of gardening related websites.