(Image: Darlington Borough Council)
A new 10-week gardening course in Darlington is helping people grow their skills and confidence.
The Grow, Learn, Thrive programme is a collaboration between Learning & Skills Darlington and the charity Groundwork, designed to support adults not currently in work.
Delivered by Learning & Skills tutors from Darlington Borough Council at Groundwork’s allotment in Bellburn Lane, the scheme combines practical gardening experience with personal development and aims to open pathways to further education or employment.
Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy at Darlington Borough Council, said: "Grow, Learn, Thrive is about much more than learning how to grow fruit and vegetables.
"It's about helping people make new connections, build confidence and discover new opportunities, whether that's progressing into further learning, training or employment."
Learners gain hands-on experience in growing fruit and vegetables, seasonal planting, and sustainable gardening methods.
The programme also aims to improve health and wellbeing by encouraging participants to stay active and grow their own healthy food.
Enrolment is open for the first cohort, which began this week, with another course planned for the New Year.
Priority is given to working-age adults with few or no qualifications living in Darlington areas with high unemployment.
Cllr McEwan added: "We know that taking the first step back into learning or work can feel daunting, especially for people who have faced challenges or been out of employment for some time.
"Programmes like this provide the support, encouragement and sense of achievement people need to believe in themselves, develop new skills and take positive steps towards a brighter future.
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"They also help us deliver our ambitions for an inclusive and sustainable local economy, for residents to live well and stay healthy, and to build thriving places and connected communities."
Natalie Whitworth, programme coordinator at Groundwork North East & Cumbria, said: "We are focused on connecting people with each other, opportunity and nature, and always try to deliver social, economic and environmental outcomes in an integrated way.
"This fantastic programme is a great of example of how together we can tackle hardship, inequalities and climate change, and help people feel more in control of their future."
More information is available at darlington.gov.uk/learningandskills or by calling 01325 405601.