The Sprouts Programme
The Poison Garden Drugs Education Project
This programme aims to help young people make informed choices when it comes to specific drugs. The reality is that most youngsters will be tempted to experiment with drugs at least once before they reach they age of 18. The Drugs Education programme aims to give our young people information about illicit substances in a non-judgemental way. Specific guided tours of The Poison Garden help to inform young people how drugs, derived from various plants, can affect their bodies and minds. A speaker from the North East Council on Addictions( NECA) further highlights the real-life implications of drug-misuse. This programme will be updated this year and offered to secondary schools in the new season.
The Roots and Shoots Healthy Living Project
Working in partnership with Northumbria Healthcare( NHS) staff, this year’ s project has targeted over 200 children from 10 different schools. Each child has been given the opportunity to grow his / her own vegetables, harvest, cook and taste them via a series of workshops held in our Roots & Shoots Garden. In March each school visited the garden and was given“ ownership” of a vegetable plot – the ground was prepared and seeds were sown. In May, pupils were in charge of weeding, planting and watering their plots- even scarecrows were made to keep off the pests! Alongside gardening, NHS staff delivered sessions on the importance of eating healthily and exercising daily. The knowledge that the children take away from this project is invaluable and will be used long after its completion.
The Forget-Me-Not Project
After a short break over the winter season, we have relaunched our Forget-Me-Not programme, with some structured sessions planned. Our drop-in sessions will be used as a tool to develop the independence skills of our participants. This includes activities like‘ come dine with me’, an activity which encourages our teens to think about their menu and create a healthy filling meal from scratch. We will also include activities such as trips off-site to the Playhouse and various other venues to promote trust with the young people and give them a budget to spend, allowing them to think for themselves and do so in a safe environment.
If you would like any more information on any of these projects please call Toni Dunn on 01665 511377 or email toni. dunn @ alnwickgarden. com
Page 10