Our activities are varied but focus on championing the benefits of gardening to individuals and organisations, as well as teaching techniques and practical applications so that anyone with a disability can take part and enjoy gardening.
We run two garden projects, one near Reading in Berkshire, the other in Battersea Park, London. We also support around 900 garden projects in England and the Irish Republic and can put you in touch with projects in your local area.
One of Thrive’s key activities is to help older and disabled people to enjoy and to continue gardening. We offer help and advice through our information service, on our website www.carryongardening.org.uk and in our leaflets and publications.
Our Training and Education Team offer a range of courses, bespoke training and consultancy for professionals and our membership scheme offers additional benefits, discounts and information. We also conduct research to increase understanding of the power that gardening has to change people’s lives.
To find out more, look in the sections at the side of this page, call us on 0118 988 5688 or email the Information Service
Building new gardens at Thrive
We have completed the Hearts and Minds garden at Thrive and it is being used by our gardeners. Looking fantastic, work has now started on The Journey Garden, which is an uplifting garden for people with a mental illness, including dementia. We are calling the area our 'Gallery of Gardens' as it will eventually be a series of five gardens designed specifically for people with disabilities. It includes The Unexpected Gardener, our gold meal winning Chelsea Garden.
Read more about the Garden Gallery here.
Battersea projects are working out well
Three projects at Battersea – Working it Out, Pathways and Forensic – are working out well for all attendees when it comes to 'moving on’ in life.
A staggering 100 per cent of people enrolling in 2010/11 for all three projects which help people living with mental ill health have told Thrive they are motivated to move on, which is the ultimate aim for the projects.
JB is on Working it Out. He said: "The last 10 months have been a rewarding experience and I hope I have learned enough to pursue a career in gardening. I have had good support from Thrive’s therapists and they have helped me through a difficult time." Read more here.