the Grow Organisation UK Ltd Cutting Crime, Cultivating Futures

1. the Grow Organisation UK LtdCutting Crime, Cultivating Futures www.thegroworganisation.org

2. Cultivating futures... • the Grow Organisation UK Ltd is an innovative umbrella social enterprise.  • We offer recognised training and qualifications, volunteering opportunities, placements and professional work experience to individuals farthest removed from the labour market. 

3. Mow & GrowTMCutting Grass, Cutting Crime, Cultivating Futures... Mow & Grow is the Grow Organisation’s original social enterprise offering a gardening and horticultural service to those in need.

4. Before & After

7. We are committed to improving the lives of others and the community as a whole.

8. We recycle all green waste collected from gardens diverting many tonnes per year away from landfill and do not use chemicals on gardens.

9. We encourage everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle and several of our staff are trained ‘Master Composters’ supporting the Garden Organic and local councils’ initiative with information and advice for householders.

10. Mow & Grow, based in Lowestoft, which gives those furthest from the job market – including ex-offenders and the long-term unemployed – training, jobs and life skills and mentoring through gardening vulnerable people’s homes, was crowned Growth Champion. Its income grew by 710.73 per cent and it created hundreds of new training positions from the end of January 2009 to January 2010.

11. TRADE& GROW Training in all trades… Trade & Grow follows the successful Mow & Grow model by offering internal property maintenance services to those in need. We offer volunteering opportunities, work placements and recognised training and qualifications to those who are not in education or employment and specialise in working with individuals farthest removed from the labour market

12. How it works... • Our services include: • Painting and decorating • Plastering and artexing • Wall and floor tiling • General maintenance repair

14. Recycle & GrowCutting Carbon, Cutting Waste, Cultivating Futures... • Features, Benefits and Needs • Features - how it works • Takes commercial waste for free • Recycles product • Resells product and invests profits back into the local community • Benefits of the project • Environmental green business • Supports economic growth • Positive impact in the community • Needs our project meets • Supports economic growth • Reduces pressure on landfill • Promotes community cohesion

15. Recycle & Grow’s core service is recycling plastics.  Recycling plastic makes both economic and environmental sense as every tonne of product recycled is a tonne of product kept out of landfill.  PVCU’s molecular structure allows it to be recycled indefinitely, reducing the need for ‘new’ products made from oil.

16. Clean & Grow Clean & Grow provides commercial and domestic services to individuals, the community and businesses. We follow the successful Grow Organisation model in our training, work experience, employment and company ethos.

17. We believe in working in harmony with our environment and use only eco friendly and biodegradable cleaning products ensuring there are no toxic emissions from machines or equipment used. We provide: Contract cleaning Industrial cleaning Pressure wash cleaning Washroom hygiene

18. CateringWithout food we are without life.

19. Cook for Life • Cook for life is designed to teach individuals the skills needed for healthy living. We focus on feeding families on a budget, health, hygiene, and safety in the home and kitchen in a relaxed and inspiring environment.  • Working with the same client group as the other social enterprises under the Grow Organisation’s umbrella, Cook for Life also runs a community cafe on site offering customer service skills with recognised training and qualifications to those attending courses and a delicious variety of food for those visiting.

20. It is an invaluable skill and learning to cook a healthy and positive diet is scientifically proven to improve health, lifestyle, and wellbeing. 

21. HospitalityPassionate about customer service skills • Offering real work experience, accredited training and employment in all aspects of the hospitality industry. • From bar workers to events, chambermaids to receptionists we aim to raise standards, offer transferable skills and motivate staff to go that extra mile for their customers. Good standards and manners cost nothing but they do ensure repeat custom vital to any business.  • Since inception, our hospitality partners have worked with individuals on the FJF scheme, the Probation Service, Mind, Shaw Trust, Seetec, local colleges and authorities producing excellent results.

22. POSITIVE OUTCOMES • Reduction in fear of crime • Reduction in actual crime • Drop in number of accidents in the home and garden (1 million accidents a year, I person dies in the garden per day) • Increased safety net for vulnerable • Increased range of services available • 100% of existing vulnerable people would recommend our service to others • Attract additional partners, providers and funding to the area. • Economic regeneration • Improvement in quality of life for community (social inclusion, environment, health and well being, security, pride in our community environment)