Retail therapy
John Horry and apprentice support worker Eloise Roberts seen antiquing one of the garden ornaments.
Adults in Boston with additional needs work together to create fabulous garden ornaments for sale around the county
With spring on the way and people getting back into their gardens, the enterprising team at Scott House community hub in Boston is producing fabulous garden ornaments for sale.
From design, manufacturing, decorating and finally selling their creations, the Scott House team really can do it all, as assistant manager, Sam Lane explained. “Every one of the people here that we support are involved in the process in some way,” she said.
“There are people who mix the materials and make the garden ornaments, people who do the painting and ‘antiquing’ and then people who help with sales. Obviously, we have to keep stocked up with materials and everyone helps keep a check on that too. They love doing it and I think they’re quite rightly very proud of the items that they make.”
The garden items vary in size and range from animals to water features and the team is gradually building up the number of outlets where they are sold. The Skirbeck Road hub is attended daily, sometimes by more than 30 adults with additional needs and the creative, busy atmosphere is having a positive effect on those that attend.
“Some of the people we support here also volunteer elsewhere to pass on their skills to others,” added Sam. “I have noticed a really significant change in them. Their confidence is increasing and the joy and laughter in the studio sometimes is contagious. They love what they are doing.”
The items made are transported elsewhere around the county and sold over the counter at venues in Lincolnshire, including:
- The Village Church Farm – Skegness
- Old McDonalds Farm Shop – Wyberton
- Quad Café – Newland, Lincoln
- Boundary Street Hub – Lincoln
Richard Parish and Mick Robinson enjoy the task of painting the new garden figures.
All profits from the sale of the garden ornaments are ploughed back into the facility, but also help to fund supported holidays for the adults involved. “These trips are fabulous for our adults,” Sam added. “We take them once a year, with this year’s trip being to the Calvert Trust in the Lake District.
“The Calvert Trust mission aims to enable people with disabilities to achieve their potential through the challenge of adventurous activities in the countryside. They have a great time and are amazed at the opportunities they have there, whether it be hiking, archery or even canoeing. Our team focus on what our adults CAN do.”
