Southport’s Autism enterprise celebrates fifth birthday
A social enterprise, which is helping change the lives of autistic children and adults, is celebrating its fifth birthday.
Autism Initiatives’ WeGrow, based in Southport, not only grows and sells vegetables, it also enables those with autism gain confidence and self esteem. And to celebrate their fifth birthday they are extending their mobile shop – so now businesses, schools, colleges and retirement homes can have WeGrow visit onsite with seasonal fresh produce.
WeGrow works with young adults to prepare them for the workplace, as well as running an afterschool club for children – by using the calm and quiet of working with nature to develop confidence.
Corordinator Cathy Buck said, “So much has happened in the five years since the lottery fund enabled us to start. The young adults who come get involved in preparing ground, growing, planting, harvesting, stocking and serving in the onsite shop, chicken care and recycling. The children have fun activities like den building and pizza making with our own pizza oven. All these activities help build self esteem. One young man has now gone to college to do business studies and another wants to learn to be a mechanic after helping fix things here. Neither considered a career when they first arrived. One young lady came to us hardly speaking and now she’s very sociable and integrates well.”
WeGrow delivers veg bags once a fortnight. Please call 01704 212763 for more information.
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