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~ working together, growing
independence
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Tynedale Horticultural Service
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Providing training and work experience in horticulture
for people with learning disabilities and selling unusual plants to the public in
Tynedale, Northumberland, UK
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September 2006 Welcome to the THS website. THS provides
training and work experience in horticulture for adults with learning
disabilities. We are based at Ridley Hall, |
Saturday, 23rd September 2006 11am-3pm & Thursdays
until end of October
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Burgh Lodge, Falkland, Fife – accommodation for the 2005 trip to Perthshire |
The picture above shows a
garden in Hexham following the completion of a highly successful landscaping
contract carried out by a small Growability Garden Works team. All five
people normally work at THS, but this was Growability’s first independent
project, intended as a pilot for more similar projects. For more information
about Growability Garden Works and for more photos of this contract, please
visit the projects page. The annual THS residential
trip last year was September 14th – 16th, staying at
the Burgh Lodge, Falkland in Fife
(shown left), and visiting Edinburgh
Botanical Gardens, the Fortingall
Yew (the oldest living thing in Europe) and Cluny House Gardens
in Perthshire and Monteviot
House Gardens in the Borders. Follow this link
for photos of the trip. We
are planning some sculptures within the grounds to celebrate our 10th
anniversary – see Millennium
Trail Sculpture Project. We
hope you find this website interesting – please send us your comments |
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Our mission statement: Working
together, growing independence THS aims to: ·
offer the following
services to adults with learning disabilities living in Tynedale and with an
interest in horticulture ·
offer training in
horticultural skills, and to work towards offering qualifications in
horticulture ·
offer horticultural
work experience that is in itself rewarding, and which could be of value when
seeking employment ·
promote growing
independence for all who use the service ·
promote good community links
for all who use our service ·
value and respect all
individuals equally ·
provide experienced and
professional support |
Rope bridge
at Alnwick Garden – May 05 |
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Who uses the
service: This horticultural work-based service is open to adults
with learning disabilities living in Tynedale, and is accessed by referral
from Northumberland Care Trust’s Care
Management Service. Starting the day:
An average day at THS starts at 9.00am with
a short staff meeting at the Lodge, the small stone cottage at the gates of
Ridley Hall where we are based. A little later, between 9.15 & 9.30,
service users arrive. At about 9.45 staff and service users have a short meeting
to plan the day. This gives an opportunity to discuss the work that needs to
be done, and for people to choose what they would like to do. It is also a
time to bring people who are part-time up to date on what has been happening.
Work:
There is a wide variety of work
available at THS, and this varies with the time of year. A more detailed
description of the work is given here.
People working in glasshouses, grounds or woodland during the morning come
back down to the Lodge for lunch at 12.00, return to work at 13.00, and
finish at 15.30. THS closes each day at 16.30. We do not usually work at
weekends, although we do attend a number of plant sales on Saturdays or
Sundays – some at Ridley Hall, and some at shows and fairs in the area –
through the spring and summer. What do people get from the service? This will vary considerably from one individual to another, but we hope at least some of the following: Ø opportunity to acquire a range of practical horticultural skills Ø work skills, including time keeping, co-operation with others, team work, respect for others, reliability, commitment, pride in quality, etc. Ø independence skills, including initiative taking, decision making, sense of personal responsibility, working independently, traveling to and from the service independently, etc. Ø sense of belonging, membership of small “community” Ø sense of identity enhanced by work role Ø getting to know more people, better integration within the wider community, broadened horizons Ø increased self confidence Ø increased self esteem Share
payments: Service users do not receive a wage at the
Unit, but a proportion of sales is shared out in occasional share payments. Training: We have recently begun to offer accredited training in some specific aspects of horticulture, with certificates being awarded through the Open College Network. Staff: There are two full time and two part time members of staff at THS, plus a manager and an assistant manager who cover all three units, and 10 service users per day (24 per week). Transport: We arrange and pay for transport to enable people to access the service at THS. Some people travel on public transport, some in taxis, and some on a minibus. Social events:
In addition to the horticultural work, we occasionally arrange outings to
other gardens, football and cricket matches against the other Units, a summer
open day and barbecue and a Christmas lunch, and annually a three day trip to
gardens further away (see out and
about). Having a say:
We hold monthly “Lodge” meetings involving all staff and service users
present on that day, and a wide range of topics are discussed, minuted and
acted upon. We also produce a quarterly newsletter covering the 3 Units
(Branching Out), with a large proportion of the content written by service
users. |
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There are two other Units managed alongside
THS. These are the original Unit – the Horticultural Skills Unit at |
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This
was the first of the three Units to be established. It was opened in January
1985 to provide horticultural training and experience for adults with
learning disabilities. It has three full time staff, and offers a service to
16 people per day. Several Units in the west country were visited when this
Unit was being set up, and of these, Kehelland Horticultural Centre Ltd was the most influential example. The HSU at
Here
are the contact details: Horticultural
Skills Unit,
webpage:
Hepscott Park HSU |
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This
Unit was originally managed by Earth Balance, a sustainability project, being
set up on the Earth Balance site in 1996. The Social Services Department took
over direct management in 1999 when Earth Balance encountered financial
difficulties. Sustainability remains an important theme, and the Unit has
organic status, entitled to use the Soil Association symbol. Plants and
vegetables are produced for sale. Horticultural training and experience is
offered to people with learning disabilities and people with mental health
needs. We offer a service to 18 people per day. Here
are the contact details:
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How to find us & how to contact us Tynedale
Horticultural Service is near the main A69 Newcastle to |