Letchworth based Green Care at Norton is a not for profit social enterprise which uses allotment gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with loneliness, unemployment or who are socially excluded through mental illness, learning difficulties or deprivation.
Green Care were recently voted Charity of the Year 2022- 2023 by Settle Housing Association and have several allotments in Letchworth where they provide a safe space for participants to learn new skills and make new friends.
Their new space at Standalone Farm will be their third allotment space and this joint venture will allow visitors to the farm to watch the Green Care team in action as they grow a range of produce including fruit, vegetable and fresh flowers. Much of the seasonal produce grown will be available to purchase in Standalone Farm’s Gift Shop and the proceeds will help to fund Green Care and their charitable work.
Director of Green Care at Norton Ray Wilson said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation at Standalone Farm to grow fresh, local produce and flowers for sale in the shop. We are thrilled to be expanding our work helping local people and would welcome new volunteers to work with us on our journey.”
Stuart Sapsford, the Executive Director of Communities, Culture and Heritage at Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation said: “We are very pleased to be working alongside Green Care at Norton to develop a farm shop offer at Standalone Farm. Locally grown produce very much fits in with the theme of Standalone Farm and will allow our local community to access affordable fruit and vegetables. Green Care’s commitment to supporting people with employment barriers is something we are very much in support of and we hope to be able to work with them to offer many more opportunities to vulnerable residents.”
More information on Green Care at Norton can be found here.
