Stepping Stone Projects - Self Grow Project

Self Grow Project Planters being made

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Stepping Stone Projects is a provider of high quality housing, support and charitable services for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. Through their work they aim to make a measurable and lasting difference to vulnerable people enabling them to live securely and independently in their own accommodation.

Stepping Stone Projects and its residents have recently set up a Self Grow Product which is currently up and running at three sites across Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood.

The ethos behind the project is to promote a community spirit within the projects, encourage clients to engage in communal activities that enable them to develop new interests and hobbies and to develop awareness around growing your own produce, healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.

The self grow project is running in conjunction with a Healthy Eating 12 week Programme and it is hoped that the harvesting of the produce will coincide with the recipes scheduled for each of the 12 weeks.

The healthy eating programme will be looking at an unhealthy meal and turning it into a healthy meal using the produce from the Self Grow Project.

All three sites have designated outside growing areas, indoor plastic greenhouses and clients are also able to grow seedlings inside on their window sills. Container planting is also being promoted so clients can take the plants with them when they leave the projects.

With the help of support workers, clients have also built planters at the site in Rochdale. These were made from recycled and/or donated materials.

A spokesperson said: "This is an excellent way of getting our clients involved in the healthy lifestyles part of the project as it is encouraging our clients to engage in activities outside in the fresh air.

"The planters are being used to improve the aesthetics of the surroundings in which the residents live at the same time as teaching clients how to care and nurture the plants which are being planted in them.

"We currently have a number of clients involved across the three sites and receive no funding for this project; we are relying on donations of equipment and plants and recycling unused wooden items for Planters.

"We are also in the process of recruiting Volunteer Gardeners to help lead the projects. The local community, especially keen gardeners, can get involved by volunteering their expertise in gardening and/or healthy lifestyles."