About EARTH
EARTH is a project based in Ely using
Allotment-techniques and other
Resources to give
Training in
Horticulture
Where we are
EARTH is an independent horticultural charity based at Larkfield, High Barns in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
What we do
EARTH enables people of a range of ages with various (dis)abilities to work alongside each other in real horticultural situations.
EARTH values:
- people with severe learning disabilities (and the associated problems of concentration, coordination, personality and speech).
- young teenagers with learning difficulties (who are maybe at risk of exclusion from school because of their behaviour or are school refusers).
- young people who have already crossed a legal threshold because of their anti-social behaviour and are labelled 'young offenders'
These three groups of people are often pushed to the margins of society and then ignored. We treat our clients with dignity and respect, we include them in discussions. We expect them to help in making decisions. We encourage them to work at, or just beyond, the limit of their ability.
We are now investigating ways to develop our activities to include:
- older people who are at risk of re-offending.
General information
We have our own legal agreement with the County Council for the use of a wooden hut as a base, for land on which we have built a large polygreenhouse, for other land to cultivate. Our clients work together in groups, experiencing a variety of horticultural techniques, growing and preparing perennial plants for sale, developing and maintaining the site.
There are morning and afternoon sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays for learning disabled adults and school age young people. Thursday afternoons are for working with young offenders. The groups are kept small to ensure a high level of individual and group encouragement and support.
Want (or need) list
This is where we will be advertising our need for things we need in the future. Things ranging from unwanted plants to spare pens and paper.
Funding
We are given various funds from different organisations for which we are very grateful.
New Clients
From time to time we have vacancies for people to come and work with us (either as a volunteer or as a client). Please contact us for details. (If you are aged under 19 please see your Connexions worker who will put you in touch with us).
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