Thrive is a national charity whose mission is to research, educate and promote the use and advantages of gardening for people with a disability.

Training and Education

Thrive offers a variety of training and education opportunities, ranging from one-day courses to higher education opportunities. Thrive courses are especially suitable for those looking to change careers, who are volunteers and those working in the fields of:

  • care 
  • education 
  • environment
  • health
  • horticulture
  • social care 


The benefits of training include:

  • increased knowledge of social and therapeutic horticulture
  • experience of the practical application of social and therapeutic horticulture
  • greater understanding of how best to use social and therapeutic horticulture with a variety of client groups
  • can be used as evidence towards your continuing professional development (CPD) 

Our step by step programme aims to provide an identifiable blended learning oathway of specialist education and teaching in the field of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) for practitioners and professionals.

Step 1 - Thrive now offers 'Step into STH’ workshops with two different themes that offer learners the opportunity to gain an insight into STH and its practice, and gain practical skills and advice.

Step 2 – National Short Course Programme we offer a set of days looking at the practice of STH alongside a specific client group. These days offer professionals the opportunity to use Thrive training days to support their Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

Step 3 – Undergraduate course we also offer the opportunity to study a Professional Development Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.

Find out more about and book Thrive courses

Read about how Thrive's training helped Ros Stone


Click on one of the following for further details:

Did you know ?
Did you know?
Did you know that Thrive is in contact with over 900 garden projects in the UK ?
If you would like to find a garden project in your area, either to volunteer or to find help for a friend or relative, call Thrive on 0118 988 5688.