Special Needs School's Garden Enterprise Project

Aim

To support the sustainable outdoor learning enterprise scheme being launched by young people with special needs.

Mill Water is an amazing special needs school in East Devon educating 115 day pupils aged 3 to 19. Pupils have a range of complex and profound disabilities, including cerebral palsy, motor developmental delay, autism, aspergers, dyspraxia, downs syndrome, heart problems and epilepsy. 

Our pupils learn best when outdoors and our staff provide a varied curriculum of subjects that supports their learning, as well as their physical and mental wellbeing, while exploring our local environment. 

Our core focus is on helping pupils to learn skills that will enable them to be as independent as possible in society when they leave school. We strive to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of the school. We embrace opportunities that promote integration and community experiences for pupils.

Our sustainable outdoor learning enterprise scheme is therefore a perfect opportunity for pupils to learn about the environment, to develop their gardening skills, to reap the physical and mental rewards of successfully growing produce, and to interact with their local community while they sell produce. The money raised from selling vegetables and flowers, to school staff and in our local village community shop, all goes back into the project; so once fully up and running it is 100% sustainable. The scheme will also help students learn about how to budget and manage finances, which will help them in later life.

To achieve this vision, Mill Water needs to raise at least £1,000 to pay for seeds, manure, gardening tools, outdoor waterproof clothing and welly boots, and a tool and potting shed. 

All our pupils have Education Health Care Plans, 35% have free school meals and some families do not have their own transport. The nature of their conditions means that their families and carers can struggle to take them to community facilities and clubs outside of school. So school can be the only place where they have the chance to pursue their hobbies and to achieve their developmental goals. 

Please go the extra mile for Mill Water and support this fantastic project!

This project successfully funded on 12th April 2022