HANDS OF HOPE

Growing Together – Building Communities

Growing & Gardening

Green spaces, gardening and growing are closely related to health and wellbeing across the life-course. They serve many purposes: they can be cultivated for flowers or growing food; used as spaces for exercise, relaxation, solace and recovery; used as places to play, meet, volunteer and acquire new skills.

Get Growing

Growing Kit

When the going gets tough, the tough Get Growing!

Get Growing was launched in July 2020 as a direct response to COVID-19. We provide weekly fresh organic produce to local food banks and community support groups as well as delivering Grow Kits to communities throughout Rother, Hastings and West Kent, supporting and encouraging people and organisations’ to grow their own food no matter what space they have – from windowsill to patio to garden to allotment.

Due to popularity, registrations for Get Growing 2023 are currently closed.

Growing Buddies

Growing Buddies

Growing Buddies uses gardening and growing to build connections and improve wellbeing.

This new project was piloted during 2021. Running two separate weekly groups the aim is to provide support for individuals living in rural communities experiencing social isolation and loneliness and working with West Kent MIND, we aim to provide a safe space for those dealing with mental health issues. Additionally, we hope to offer training and guidance enabling Growing Buddies to go out into the community and help others.

Find out more

Future Growers

Future Growers

The next generation of Market Gardeners.

We currently have 4 Trainee Grower apprenticeship roles available as part of the DWP’s Kickstart scheme based at our Walled Kitchen Garden in Hawkhurst, West Kent. The Kickstart scheme offers job placements for 16-24 year olds who are on Universal Credit or Job Seekers Allowance and at risk of long-term unemployment. These placements are designed to give young people the valuable experience, knowledge, and skills of being in a work environment which will improve their chances of going on to find future long-term employment.

Apply Here