Free daytime allotment courses started this week aimed at South Leeds residents with learning difficulties, mental health concerns, or those who have been shielding against Covid-19.
Local unemployed people in South Leeds are invited to take up the offer of a free place on a gardening and allotment course to support their efforts to find employment or training.
The course running on Mondays aims to help individuals gain new skills as well as improving their confidence to help support attendees towards training or employment.
The Tuesday course is aimed at people with learning difficulties.
Wednesdays are for those who have been shielding from Covid-19 who may feel isolated, lonely and like their levels of mobility have decreased with aims to increase confidence, improve mental wellbeing, and socialising in a Covid-secure, outdoor area.
Activities include creating herb boxes, planting seeds and outdoor exercise.
The sessions run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Lady Pit Lane allotments – off Linden Avenue, opposite Tesco Express on Dewsbury Road.
Lou, Groundwork Project Officer, commented:
“Gaining exercises whilst being outdoors and observing nature will improve health and wellbeing at the same time as meeting new people”
Lady Pit Lane allotments is a hidden gem of the community, easily accessible by bus from Dewsbury Road, with room for bicycles to be brought onto the plot, on-site accessible toilets, hot drinks available and running water as well as a barbecue and socialising outdoor area.
The project will take place on a large open outdoor space with enough room to accommodate Covid-safe social distancing guidelines.
The project is part of European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grants programme that provides funding to small organisations in the voluntary and community sector, to provide support to unemployed and inactive individuals to engage them and move them towards employment through packages of training and support. The programme is funded by the ESF and Education Skills Agency, and led by community charity, Groundwork. The project is also funded by West Yorkshire Health and care partnership, and Together Leeds as part of their CEV (clinically extremely vulnerable) transition funding.
To find and more or to reserve a place, contact Lou on 07730 765551 or email your name and contact phone number to christianne.kerrin@groundwork.
This post was written by Louise Ross
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