The Aldingbourne Trust
The Aldingbourne Community Team - Crowned winners of “Makin it Real- Shine 09”
The Makin' it Real Awards – Youth Action Network, which were set up in 2006, reward and recognise groups of young people, and the workers who support them, for identifying an issue in their community, then coming up with ideas to tackle that issue, before making those ideas real through Youth Action!
Five finalists in the 'Group' category were selected and invited to attend the Makin it real - Shine 09 Awards prestigious event in East London, held at the Rich Mix centre. The Aldingbourne Trust Community team were speechless when they were announced the winners - they walked away with a cash prize of £1000, a specially engraved trophy and certificate.
The Aldingbourne Trust, based near Chichester in West Sussex, aims to support and offer real, valued, community work for adults with learning disabilities by working in partnership with local organisations like Southern Rail.
Since starting the project in 2007, the Aldingbourne Community Team has expanded greatly and has been the topic of discussion within their local community. They have produced and delivered stunning floral displays in over 19 Southern Rail stations raising awareness & challenging pre-conceived ideas relating to people with learning disabilities.
Consequently, their success has developed from not only hanging baskets and floral tubs on the station platforms, but led to being approached to transform planting areas, normally laid to wasteland; but now feature colour and attractive garden designs which are pleasing to the eye. The group have since transformed planting areas at Barnham, Hayward’s Heath, Burgesshill, Christ Hospital and a roundabout at Dorking. Following the success of the past two years and the achievement of winning this award, they aim to set up their own Social Enterprise!
Sarah Ross, who is the Community Projects Co-ordinator is extremely proud of her team and says, “…winning this award is fantastic for my team, who have worked so hard to achieve such a high standard of work. This award reinforces the value and need for community projects, such as this, and that people with a learning disability are valuable citizens within their community."
If you would like to contact the Aldingbourne Community Team for garden design or garden maintenance, please call:
Sarah Ross: 07508038637 or
Rachel Smither – Community Project Manager: 07952295880.
Attached are photos of the Aldingbourne Team, receiving the award at the Rich Mix centre in London. A before and after of Hayward’s Heath planting area to show the quality and high standard of their work and a photo of John Willet, who is maintaining hanging baskets at Billingshurst station.
