Most people living in Guernsey will have been aware of the massive fundraising campaign and the subsequent total redevelopment of the Grow site in recent years. But most would equally be totally surprised (in a good way) at the scale, quality and ambition of the ‘new-look’ property, which aims to future-proof the charity for the next few decades.
Grow was established in 1984 providing sheltered occupation for adults with learning disabilities and difficulties who worked in the vinery learning horticultural skills, growing tomatoes and then flowers and selling their wares to the public. Parents and carers knew that attendees were in a safe secure environment. The vinery (the word used locally for greenhouses, emanating from their original use to grow vines) still remains at the very heart of Grow, but within the new development there is also a training café and a fully-equipped carpentry workshop where attendees – known as ‘the crew’ – develop, self-confidence, life and employability skills which will enable many of them to move on to full or part-time employment.
Marguerite Talmage, a director of Grow, explained how the new vision came about.
“About 15 years ago, the then board of directors realised that the greenhouses where Grow was operating were no longer fit for purpose. So, they decided that the best option was to redevelop the whole site.
“When the new development was being planned, we realised that there was an opportunity to include a lot more than just horticulture. So, we have the training café where the team is developing the crew’s occupational skills, both front of house and in the kitchen, plus the workshop. We take a holistic approach, developing life and personal skills in things like dealing with the public, communication, as well as the skills they need to work in the commercial sector such as handling the till and so on.”
The crew – currently totalling around 40 – generally work on a rotation basis, spending several weeks in the café, and then moving to the vinery and/or workshop. If they show a particular aptitude or interest in a certain area, they can choose to focus on that with the aim to move into longer-term employment.
The vinery itself is a hive of industry. The compost is made on-site, and all plants arrive as plugs to be brought on for sale individually or for inclusion in the fabulous troughs or hanging baskets for which Grow is renowned – all without the aid of herbicides or pesticides. In the workshop, crew members learn carpentry skills, creating everything from planters to on-site signage. Planters are created from re-purposed pallets alongside other items such as bug hotels and bird and bat boxes – showcasing the sustainability and environmental ethos that underpins the whole operation.
The perhaps unexpected element of the development is the extended facilities in the community hub. Small local charities linked with the disabled sector can rent office accommodation at affordable rates; there are meeting rooms for hire, an extensive events space, as well as a training kitchen for the crew to learn basic skills before heading to the café. There is also a chill out area for crew and a quiet room – all finished to the highest specification.
Marguerite explained that they make no apology for that:
“We wanted to future-proof the facility for the next 40 years. We knew that we would only have one hit at doing something like this, so we had to make it work and last.”
Things are still moving forward. There is a large retail space not yet open, which will create further potential employment opportunities for the crew. And while the new development is a world away from Grow’s origins 40 years ago, the organisation’s founder, the late Maurice Lihou MBE, will have an area dedicated to him and his wife when their ashes are re-interred in a dedicated memorial garden.
The obvious ongoing challenge for any charity, and particularly one of Grow’s size and type, is funding. Its annual operating costs are around £700,000. A grant from the Employment and Social Security Department, plus revenues from plant sales, the workshop, and the training café go some way to covering that sum, but fundraising, donations and legacies all still play a vital part. A 40th anniversary ball in September is one of the main fundraising events this year, and there are plenty of other ways to get involved.
Throughout the entire facility, there is a fantastic atmosphere. The commitment and positivity of the staff are tangible; the crew are demonstrably enthusiastic and proud of what they do. Plus, the café has a real buzz and serves a great coffee – definitely worth putting on the ‘must visit’ list.
Grow continues to fulfil an extremely important role in the Guernsey community. The new development has created an incredible facility of which the island should be proud.
