The Dawlish Gardens Trust is celebrating having received a grant worth over £30,000 to support its work with disabled people from across South Devon. The three year grant has been made by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales through its community programme. Since the beginning of 2008 nineteen charities in Devon have received grants from the Lloyds TSB Foundation worth a total of over £345,000.
Based in a seven acre site on Port Road outside Dawlish, the Dawlish Gardens Trust provides opportunities for people with mental or physical disabilities to learn about horticulture. The charity currently works with between 20-25 visitors every day, providing work experience, training and life skills. Dawlish Gardens offers opportunities for disadvantaged individuals to become involved in a community and the skills they learn can increase the choices available to them in other areas of life. Funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation will contribute to the salary of an additional instructor, allowing Dawlish Gardens to increase its capacity and meet the growing demand for its services.
Mike Adams, trustee at the Dawlish Gardens Trust commented, “For many of the people who come to us the gardens provide opportunities that they struggle to find elsewhere. We have clients driving tractors, growing and eating their own food and generally not being excluded from taking part because of their disability. This grant will provide us with continuity and allow us to increase our capacity, welcoming more people to the project.”
Lloyds TSB Foundation grant manager for Devon & Cornwall, Trevor Smale, added, “The Dawlish Gardens Trust has shown over many years that it can deliver great things for the people they work with. The Lloyds TSB Foundation is delighted to support the project, allowing them to bring their work to a greater number of disabled people across South Devon.
If you would like to find out more about Dawlish Gardens please visit their website at www.dawlish-farm-trust.co.uk or contact the charity’s manager, Ian Harris on 01626 864307. If you are interested in horticulture, new volunteers are always welcome and full training will be provided.
