About us
Grow for Life is a social and therapeutic gardening charity, working throughout Bath and towns and villages across North East Somerset.
Our vision is to see a world where people experiencing low confidence, anxiety, depression or isolation are restored to live life to the full
Our purpose is to nurture people so that they flourish. We do this by welcoming people into the safe space of a garden where we inspire, build skills, create connections and provide a pathway to work.
Gardening with us
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We provide a safe and supportive environment for attendees to connect with other people, grow in confidence and learn new skills.Many of our gardening sessions now take place at Grow for Life's very own Walled Garden in Newton St Loe, on the edge of Bath, which you can read more about here.
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We also run sessions in private gardens, supporting individuals who welcome or require help in maintaining their own gardens. In addition Grow for Life has a small number of gardening sites in the grounds of local care homes where teams work to maintain areas of the garden.
We continue to collaborate with other organisations including The Urban Garden, a local social enterprise, and Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Parks Department in developing pathways to work with training and work experience.
We would like our new gardeners to appreciate nature on our tree and shrub identification walks, and take part in practical sessions including plant propagating, seed saving, foraging, natural crafts, apple pressing and wildlife walks.
Our gardening outcomes
The gardening sessions result in increased confidence and self-esteem, as well as having a positive impact on mental health and general wellbeing.
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The sessions also provide an opportunity to practice and improve social and communication skills. In addition, the programme has a significant role in restoring motivation, a sense of purpose and a feeling of belonging.
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Grow for Life sessions often act as a stepping stone from which gardeners progress onto additional volunteering, work experience, study, paid work or other meaningful activity. Gardeners progress into a range of sectors with some choosing to pursue horticultural opportunities whilst others pursue different areas of interest.
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Where our new gardeners are keen to secure more work-focused gardening experience or gardening work, Grow for Life supports them to find relevant and suitable opportunities.
Grow for Life was started by Martin Geake and Ted Litchfield in 2015. The charity was founded on Christian principles and values which remain at the heart of the organisation’s ethos.
However Grow for Life welcomes new gardeners from all faiths and no faith backgrounds.