Beanstalk Gardens

Established by Autism Plus, Beanstalk Gardens is a social enterprise offering a wide range of horticultural sessions ranging from beginners, individuals who require support, intermediate work placements and advanced apprenticeships and paid placements. These groups offer a progression route from supported sessions to meaningful employment.

As part of these sessions Beanstalks offers Employment Support for participants, including:

Preparing for Work:
• Information, advice & guidance
• Help to build self-confidence & self-esteem
• Help with practical issues eg travel, childcare and housing support
• Help being part of your community
• Help with communication

Work Experience and Volunteering Opportunities:
• Volunteering Opportunities

Caters for people with autism, learning disabilities, people with physical impairments and/or sensory impairments, mental health issues and long term health conditions. Can offer taster sessions for individuals interested in purchasing sessions.

There are various groups to get involved with that will cater for your needs. Everyone is welcome, whether you are looking to gain work experience, support us by sharing your knowledge or join in some of the planned sessions:
• Breath of Fresh Air - Pea Pods
A fun filled day of activities for children aged 8-18 to enjoy the great outdoors. The club co-ordinator teaches the group how to grow vegetable, herbs and flowers whilst engaging with the great outdoors and local wildlife. There is also have an indoor group concentrating on craft activities. Children are referred to this group through SNIPS (Special Needs Inclusion Play Scheme). Please contact SNIPS if you would like to be referred for a placement.
• Bean Sprouts:
For individuals in receipt of personal budgets and people who have support. The Bean Sprouts will learn lots of gardening techniques, which includes helping to maintain the garden's flowers, shrubs and vegetables in a structured session planned by expert gardeners.
• Runner Beans:
Real work experience opportunities for individuals with a keen interest in gardening who want to expand their knowledge. Sessions surround more work-related activities. Individuals progress into these roles from the Bean Sprout group and can then pass on the knowledge they have learnt to others.
• Broad Beans:
Volunteering, employment and qualification opportunities for individuals that want to progress onto employment and the open job market. The Broad Beans are a team of keen gardeners or individuals wanting to develop their employability skills. You will be leading others on tasks and helping individuals to expand their knowledge. You will learn new gardening techniques and practices whilst also learning work-related skills. In this group Broad Beans will have more responsibility to work within the social enterprise. There will be opportunities to work in various areas of the site to really gain some valuable knowledge for future employment.

All produce grown on site is sold within the local community by means of farmers markets and local retailers.

Prices:

All prices are the base rate. Each individual will need to fill out an application for a placement and prices will be discussed depending on support needs.
£45 for a full day (10am-3.30pm)
£27 for a half day (10am-12.30pm or 1-3.30pm)
If these sessions are too long for your needs, other times can be accommodated. These prices have been provided by Autism Plus, please check them yourself for accuracy.

All profits are ploughed back into the gardening project to create paid positions and provide training and qualifications for those Autism Plus Supports.