Project Grow
A community growing project for young people in Frome and surrounding villages, to help improve their life chances, engage with training and improve their well-being.
Our aim is to support 15-18 year olds in building their self-esteem, confidence and emotional literacy by engaging with practical activities on the land.
By growing food together we can grow a connection with the natural world and nurture a love of nature.
Horticulture & outdoor learning for teenagers
Project Grow
PILOT PROJECT GETS “10 out of 10”
Project Grow is an outdoor learning project for 15-18 year olds who aren’t in work, education or training. The pilot project recently scored a ‘10/10’ rating from its participants and demonstrates the potential of outdoor learning for this age group.
This initiative, which was set up last autumn, offers a supportive space for young people to develop skills and confidence. Since February 2022 the project has helped 15-18 year olds to develop their confidence and skills through active, outdoor learning.
Somerset Works helps schools and colleges to identify and support children who are at risk of not making a successful post-16 transition. Project Grow leader Alex Hart said “Somerset Works are very happy with the results of Project Grow so far, particularly in terms of participant engagement and feedback. The 100% attendance rate is an exceptional result. They will continue referring young people to Project Grow through this year and next.”
HOW IT STARTED
A team of young ‘Edventure’ students, with support from our forest school leaders, helped to set up Project Grow in 2021.
With help from the student team at Edventure, Shared Earth Learning has established new poly-tunnel and raised beds, ready for “Project Grow.”
“This will be an outdoor learning space for young people aged 15-18. Project Grow trainees will help to choose what crops to grow in this space. With support from our Forest School leaders, they will learn how to sow seeds and nurture a crop, and can gain experience in taking produce to market. Shared Earth Learning will help these young people grow produce using permaculture principles, on a site at Vallis Veg market garden. We want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to our sponsors at National Lottery and Vastern Timber, and MANY THANKS to our partners at Vallis Veg, Edventure and Somerset Works.”
Read on for more about the project and do contact us for more information or to donate.
Project Grow gets 10/10
JULY 2022
“Some young people feel let down and disengaged” said Alex, who is a director at Shared Earth Learning. “We work with those who most benefit from some extra help, the young people in our area who are not in education, work or training. And when these young people say “I just love coming” and give Project Grow a 10/10 it really means a lot.”
Somerset Works helps schools and colleges to identify and support children who are at risk of not making a successful post-16 transition. Alex said “Somerset Works are very happy with the results of Project Grow so far, particularly in terms of participant engagement and feedback. The 100% attendance rate is an exceptional result. They will continue referring young people to Project Grow through this year and next.
Project leaders, Alex Hart and Sam O’Malley, are assisted by Jack, a young forest school leader, who’s working towards his forest school qualifications. He was part of the Edventure ‘kickstart scheme’ to build the Project Grow polytunnel and has since become an assistant to the teaching team. “He’s been amazing” said Alex.
“The students have been ‘hanging out’ in nature, naming all the vegetable beds, planting peas and playing football. We’ve done river walks, spoon carving, campfire cooking, and made a mallet called Kevin. We also have ‘circle time’ at the start and end of each session, providing the safe space that these young people need.”
Project Grow: January Journal
‘Project Grow’ is a new initiative, supported by the National Lottery and Vastern Timber.
It began because we have been running groups for years with young people who aren’t engaging in mainstream education, and we can see that this provision shouldn’t end when they turn 16. So, working with local social enterprises, we have set up a community growing project for young people in Frome and surrounding villages, to help improve their life chances, engage with training and improve their wellbeing.
Our aim is to support 15-18 year olds in building their self-esteem, confidence and emotional literacy by engaging with practical activities on the land. Teenagers at Project Grow can develop a connection with the natural world, learn how to grow food and produce for market, and gain awareness of the importance of ecological sustainability.
For more of the story, read our journal for Vastern Timber about Project Grow. (NOTE: this link takes you to Vastern Timber’s website’)
Thanks to our Sponsors
How it began…
In 2021, Shared Earth Learning and Edventure students started work to prepare a site for Project Grow
Preparing the site
Edventure students working with Shared Earth Learning volunteers to prepare the site for Project Grow
In November 2021 a group of students from Edventure began work on the project.
For an idea of how things might look later this year, here are some snaps from last summer….
