Radius brings bloom to Orchardville gardening project

A team from Radius Housing has volunteered in the new vegetable garden for people with learning disabilities as part of the Orchardville Grows Project in Bangor.

The event, which was organised by Volunteer Now, the Orchardville Society and Orchardville Grows, is an initiative that provides people with learning disabilities the opportunity to participate in different horticultural projects. The project uses plants and gardens to improve the physical and mental health of people with learning disabilities as well as giving them an opportunity to engage with others and improve communication skills and social skills.

The aim of the project is to enable the development of life skills that are transferable into employment and life in general. These include occupational and vocational skills, wellbeing support, skills for life and work. Radius Housing’s participation in the project is part of their wider community outreach work.

Speaking at the event, Area Housing Manager at Radius Housing, Sheila Taylor, said: “We are delighted to be in Bangor volunteering with the Orchardville Grows project and supporting the great initiative. This project is an excellent example of how delivering education and training through working outdoors and gardening can benefit service users by improving physical and mental wellbeing, social inclusion and the opportunity for them to develop new skills.”

Orchardville, which has offices in East Belfast, Bangor, Lisburn and Derry, provides accredited training and skills development for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. It enables the development of life skills that are transferable into employment and life in general.These include occupational and vocational skills, wellbeing support, skills for life and work,OCN (Open College Network) accredited training, school transitions services and work placements.

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