Member Article

Growth Experience for Autism

Goldcrest House service users embrace a growth experience during their work on an allotment project designed for local food production.

Promoting an understanding of growing and eating healthy local food, The Goole based Waterways Museum Sobriety Project uses allotments as a resource for involving the community in growing fresh produce and learning about food production.

Furthering their education Mark, Thomas, and Chris from Goldcrest House have been provided with the opportunity to start their own allotment and put what they have learnt into practice, starting with planting seeds to grow.

Ralph Parish, registered manager at Goldcrest House says: “Enabling our service users to explore their scope of skills as well as getting involved in a social environment, is of huge benefit to developing their independence and confidence – it’s a massive achievement for them.”

The project helps communities manage allotment plots sustainably for local food production and improves accessibility to fresh local food. The project also provides a social focus to food enjoyment by providing nutritious affordable meals in the museum café.

Based on Boothferry Road Goldcrest House is a centre of excellence dedicated to addressing the individual needs of adults over 18 affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder and learning difficulties. It provides residential care, supported living, long and short term respite care, day services and outreach to meet the varied needs of those who access the service 52 weeks a year; its aim is to be the UK’s quality service of choice.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Goldcrest House .