Why we need to raise money?

We have been delivering our Seed2Plate project at EMA (Employ My Ability) in Moreton for over a year now, helping young students with special educational needs and learning disabilities turn the previously overgrown and derelict kitchen garden into a growing oasis, enabling the students to develop life skills development and encourage positive well-being. Through the project students were gaining hands-on horticulture training and boosting their confidence while at the same time providing fresh food for low-income families, unfortunately due to changes within Government funding this project is at risk, without funds at this crucial point in time the project will not survive resulting in an impact to the benefits which are; skills development, qualifications, linking interests to employment, positive mental health and real opportunities for young people to step into employment or further education. Proving that this enterprise project isn’t just about gardening.

This opportunity for SEND young people to be involved in the development of an enterprise is unique, it allows for the project to become sustainable as well as it will be an ongoing project for those on the enterprise programme.

As well as building confidence, team working and transferable horticultural skills, the project also gives students the opportunity to also gain experience in essential business and financial management skills including:
• Budgeting and planning
• Purchasing
• Stock management
• Sales and marketing
 • Revenue management

But what is Seed2Plate?

The Seed2Plate project engages with communities to repurpose plots of land to grow fresh fruit and veg for local low income people, whilst gaining skills and qualifications through the National Open College Network (NOCN). The project highlights the benefits of working outdoors with positive mental health and wellness. Participants benefit by gaining practical skills and training in horticulture, working with like-minded people in a relaxed and friendly environment, which gives them the option to progress into higher education, employment or self employment in related industries.

The project is led by Paul Seaman, who has over twenty years’ experience in the VCSE sector, with expertise in supporting vulnerable people.  Paul is supported by Lydia Harvey, who is experienced in running a range of volunteer programmes with a background in horticulture and wildlife conservation. She delivers accredited training to support learners with a range of learning barriers.  Lydia has an RHS Level 2 horticulture qualification.

Seed2Plate’s vison, for this collaboration with EMA, is an enterprise that enables:

• Young People with SEND to gain meaningful work in real world enterprise setting.
• Provide a learning environment that is real and age appropriate.
• Give these young people the opportunities to develop skills and transition into work environments.
• The process of “Preparing for Adulthood”, an ongoing commitment to supporting a young person’s pathway towards whole life independence.

Why the collaboration with EMA is so important:

The EMA campus at Moreton already offers study programmes which incorporate land based studies where students are able to develop horticulture skills, and they also play a key role in the maintenance of The Walled Garden, a public visitor attraction, where it is situated. This makes the collaboration with Seed2Plate a perfect complement to their studies and offers a space where students who may not yet be comfortable with working in a public setting, a way to develop skills until they feel more confident. In 2023, Lydia held an information session to explain the project to students before it started to see if any of the young people were interested, and she had a lot of sign-ups on the day. The students have a big say in how it is run and what the end product/goal will be. Maisie, Brandon, Jack, Joshua, Ryan, Jaimie and Tameka are currently participating in Seed2Plate and they all have positive feedback on how it’s going.

What has changed, why is the money needed now? 

In late 2024, a shift in government priorities led to the loss of vital funding for the Seed2Plate project.  With the closure of the National Citizenship Service, SEND young people will be left without opportunities to develop their independence, transition into adulthood and build pathways to employment with the Seed2Plate project. We need your help to bridge this gap! 

Our vision is to support students in setting up and running a kitchen garden as a self-sustaining social enterprise to provide produce for visitors to the Moreton Walled Gardens, Dovecote café, and local community.

“Seed2Plate is a fantastic weekly session and allows the students to see how the whole planting process works from sowing to harvesting, while also encouraging them to think what products will sell, and set price margins to ensure profits etc, so it is cross curricular using Maths and English, while also forming links with the community. Losing the sessions would be devastating to the students, and we really hope the public will get involved in helping us to spread the word and keep it going.” - Simon, EMA Work Experience and Next Steps Coordinator.

What do the students gain from this project? 

Working with participants from the local community around our growing plots has seen a difference in the mindset and confidence of those that have taken part in growing and harvesting the produce.

The consequences of losing such an enterprise project are that the students would be lose an already established programme which has proven benefits and it reduces the opportunities they have, which in turn would have a potentially negative impact on their futures.

Working with the students at EMA has had a positive effect on their health and wellbeing. Staff have been told that those participating in the Seed2Plate project have been more engaged with their learning and have worked better during Seed2Plate days.

This enterprise project highlights the benefits of working outdoors, positive mental health and also student’s wellness.

Seed2Plate provides participants with ways to:

• Improve mental health through a sense of purpose and achievement
• The opportunity to connect with others – reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion
• Acquiring new skills and confidence to improve the chances of finding employment
• Getting active and feeling better for being outside, in touch with nature and in the 'great outdoors'
• Provide peer support network and help with emotional regulation

Many studies have found that gardening can have a positive effect on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Students on the Seed2Plate project have certainly shown improved attention and better mood during and after the sessions.  In general, gardening has been shown to reduce mental health problems like depression and anxiety and can also help reduce stress and combat high blood pressure, as well as improving overall physical fitness.

Working in a safe and friendly environment or just having somewhere to go to meet other like-minded people can also help to reduce isolation and loneliness.

“We found that students here seem to work a lot better outdoors than if they were in the classroom environment, we’ve seen a lot more difference in the well being side of it… They’re learning new skills and these are skills that they can then take into other employment” and "The students have said how they prefer being outside and not in a classroom learning environment. They are putting their new skills into practice and have come up with enterprise ideas that can help to benefit the college and raise awareness of SEND young people in a working environment. They are currently working on a veg box and flower selling scheme and will be utilising the courtyard for growing the produce. Produce has also been used by the hospitality students in their cooking classes. It would be detrimental for the students if the funding was no longer available for them to build on their original growing project and increase their employability skills and confidence. Marketing, promotion, research, budgeting, planning." - Lydia Harvey, Seed2Plate Lead

How will the money be used? 

Money raised will fund staff costs and materials to support 10 young people in setting up this enterprise.

Why is this important?

“In late 2024, a shift in government priorities led to the loss of vital funding for the Seed2Plate project, which supports young people with special education needs and disabilities. With the closure of the National Citizenship Service, young people will be left without opportunities to develop their independence, transition into adulthood and build pathways to employment. We need your help to bridge this gap. Your support – whether through donations or simply spreading the word – can make a real difference in ensuring these young people continue to thrive. Together, we can keep this life-changing project alive. Thank you for caring.” - Paul Seaman, DCA Programme Manager.

This isn’t just about gardening—it’s about skills, qualifications, mental health, and real opportunities for young people to step into employment or further education. 

Watch our campaign video for a look at the current students in action and hear from those directly involved!