Having green fingers means you’re good at gardening and growing things. And Jo is great at both! Jo has grown in confidence by involving herself in growing plants, and has made lots of friends, too.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see one of our residents develop their independence. In fact, it’s one of the reasons they move into our assisted living accommodations in the first place. Jo moved into new accommodation in Fleet while she was working at the Greenfingers, a garden centre.
When she first started it was a simple commute as the bus was close to her home. She also had the support from her family in case she needed it. However, moving further away wasn’t going to stop her from being active.
Moving to Fleet meant Jo had to learn how to navigate the train system. Initially, staff accompanied her to help with purchasing tickets, reading timetables, and getting on the right platform and train. Though daunting at first, Jo quickly mastered the skills to travel independently.
Helping people grow
Greenfingers’ mission is to provide a safe and peaceful working environment for adults with learning disabilities and autism. By offering opportunities to learn new skills in horticulture and woodwork, they help individuals build character and self-confidence. This aligns perfectly with Basingstoke Mencap Job Club’s goal of assisting individuals in progressing towards voluntary or paid work.
The project also fosters community involvement by welcoming volunteers from both the local area and further afield, and forging connections with other local initiatives.
Jo attends Greenfingers on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and loves being outdoors and working in the polytunnels. Over time, she has developed a wonderful network of friends and grown more confident in using both trains and buses.
The “Woodwork for Wildlife” products and seasonal plants and vegetables from the allotment are available for purchase. Jo thoroughly enjoys interacting with customers at the shop, which has significantly boosted her confidence through positive social interactions.
Jo is always prepared for work, wearing clothing appropriate for the weather conditions. Additionally, she attends a different gardening club near Newbury on Fridays, further enhancing her life skills and expanding her growing network of friends.
Working with Jo is a pleasure, and we are delighted at her passion and dedication. Nice one, Jo!