Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2015 | Page 61

OUT & ABOUT

Growing together at Quarr

A

n exciting project being run at
Quarr Abbey offers people with
learning disabilities the chance
to grow produce and engage in art and
craft work - and then enjoy the buzz of
seeing it go on sale to the public.
The initiative is initially being piloted by
the Islands not-for-profit company, Blue
Sky Arts. Initially it will be running two
days a week, and there are hopeful plans
for it to expand to five days a week as the
enterprise develops.
Southern Housing group has been
growing produce with the Abbey for
some time as part of a land usage
scheme and following Blue Sky Arts
joining the project they are now piloting
the arts and crafts work. The growing

and selling of fresh produce, with
the addition of craft work is a
practical way of helping to support
vulnerable individuals and groups.
The project is located at the
Abbey’s teashop hut, and a
programme of demonstrations
and art sessions is available
so that members of the public
can get involved. Following the
pilot scheme it is hoped that
the clients will be gaining retail
experience selling the produce
and craft items to the public.
Quarr Abbey’s Operation
Manager Dean Pascall, said: “It is really
fantastic that the two charities are
benefiting from the allotments through
the land usage scheme. All the
produce grown from the scheme

by the charities and Quarr Abbey is
providing such wonderful fresh fruit and
vegetables for the local community to
buy and is also allowing the charities
clients to hopefully gain some retail
experience which they
can use for any future
employment.”
The project aims to
support the charities clients
in gaining experience
they can use in future
employment. It is certainly
a unique opportunity for
these budding growers
and artists – as well as a
chance for Island residents
to see and purchase their
products.

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