Our Work: Allotment Learning Project (ALPS)

The Allotment Learning Project (ALPS) is a family learning project for socially excluded families with a particular emphasis on adult offenders and ex-offenders. It is funded by the Big Lottery. The project runs in 4  London boroughs with the aim of increasing opportunities for learning through supporting participants to design, develop and maintain an allotment. This includes growing produce for consumption in the family home and improving the dietary habits and awareness of participants.

Project aims & objectives:
• Enable beneficiaries to undertake quality training and activities in horticulture
• Increase awareness of healthy lifestyles and nutrition
• Improve parent and child relationships
• Produce a project cookbook

This will be achieved by:

• Providing an allotment site for 1 adult and their child.
• Providing equipment, tools and training needed to maintain the site.
• Providing a family mentor and a volunteer to support and encourage participation
• Providing support around the design, development and maintenance of their allotment
• Annual celebratory and social events
• Beneficiaries who take part will have the opportunity to gain:
• Targeted horticultural training and support
• Knowledge of how to manage and maintain an allotment
• The ability to produce foodstuffs for consumption at home
• Constructive activity to support the parent child relationship
• Greater awareness of nutrition
• An opportunity to contribute to a project cookbook

Eligibility Criteria
• Beneficiaries must live in London
• Want to positively engage in the programme undertaking horticulture training and maintaining an allotment.
• Be willing to take part in the project for a minimum of 2 hours per week for 6-12 months
• Provide proof of ID
• Be a parent of a child under 16
All beneficiaries will be subject to a risk assessment to ensure suitability.

Potential referral agencies
We are open to referrals from any agencies working with this client group and can also take self referrals. Please contact us for further details.

Contacts
For more information or to refer beneficiaries into the project please contact Sherry Keys or Andrea Dawson on 020 7793 0842 or email andrea.dawson@lat.org.uk