See Me Be Connected: Inclusive Access to Nature

Aim

We want to create a productive garden to provide opportunities for paid employment to adults with a Learning Disability living in Wiltshire.

See Me Be CIO is a charity for adults with a Learning Disability in Wiltshire. 

I returned to work after my maternity leave in 2018 and became increasingly frustrated by the limited opportunities for adults with a learning disability to access paid employment. I really wanted to do something to change this and so I established See Me Be CIO, with a small group of wonderful Trustees in 2020.

Since then, we have employed Helen, our Job Coach, who has worked with local agencies, support groups and colleges to support individuals to access paid employment. We have only worked with a few individuals to date and there are certainly many barriers which need to be overcome to enable adults with a learning disability opportunities for paid employment.

Research undertaken by Mencap suggests that only 5.1% of adults with a learning disability, who are known to their local authority in England, are in paid work (NHS Digital, 2021). https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/research-and-statistics/employment-research-and-statistics,

However, Mencap also found that there are significant benefits to employing adults with a learning disability, including improvements in staff team morale, lower sickness levels and loyalty, as generally employees with a learning disability stay with one employer for a longer time than most other employees. https://www.mencap.org.uk/blog/benefits-employing-person-learning-disability

Our vision:

It is with great thanks to Alex and his family at Grange Farm, for allowing See Me Be CIO to use The Old Orchard. Grange Farm is an organic beef farm in the heart of Wiltshire. It is our vision to create an accessible space for adults with a learning disability where they can grow produce, maintain paid employment, feel connected to nature and be part of their community. Hence, See Me Be Connected!

We believe that through meaningful occupation, a sense of purpose, and activity in nature that there are significant benefits to a person's physical and mental health and well-being. 

At present The Old Orchard is a bit of a wilderness, but it has plenty of potential! There are already an abundance of fruit trees, including apples, crab apples, pear, plum and cherry, which have provided a wonderful harvest this year. 

What we will do:

We will use this funding to ensure that The Old Orchard is accessible to all by putting in paths, raised beds and toilet facilities. There is an existing polytunnel already sited, which requires some maintenance and a new cover. We will need to purchase a summer house, tables and chairs and tools to get started. Any additional funds will be used to directly employ adults with a learning disability. 

We will work in harmony with nature, through use of a permaculture approach, planting native species and providing valuable habitat for wildlife. 

We're so excited to get this project started. We will create a safe, happy place, which can be enjoyed by many.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read more about us. 

This project successfully funded on 22nd December 2023