Who we are

staff

trainees

management

volunteers

Background

Objectives

History

Trainees

There are over 20 trainees involved with HOPE. They come from all parts of Angus: Montrose, Arbroath, Forfar, Carnoustie and Monifieth.

In the beginning the trainees came along mainly to enjoy a working situation in a safe environment. Over the past two years our garden supervisors, as accredited workplace assessors, have developed SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualifications) and SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) modules in relation to the wide-ranging needs of the different trainees.

The modules cover gardening skills and other relevant horticultural and land use subjects. 23 of the 25 trainees have gained one or more certificates a variety of the horticultural modules, which have been verified through Angus College and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

So far modules have been completed in Workstart Gardening Skills, Handtools used in Horticulture and Land Industries modules. In the middle of 2004 two of our more experienced trainees started their SVQ Level 1 in Horticulture and by the end of 2004 some will start our new Environmental Design modules.

The picture above shows the first 4 trainees to receive their SQA certificate in Gardening Skills

Projects within the project.

• H.O.P.E. successfully obtained three grants of £715 each from the You and Your Community Millennium Award to fund Michael, Sylvia and George in the construction of their own polytunnel. They are growing their own bedding plants and shrubs that are being used to plant up containers and hanging baskets to be distributed to resource centres and residential homes around Angus. Michael and Sylvia continue to do their own fundraising, through sales of their own produce, in order to keep this project going.
• In 2003 H.O.P.E. obtained £1,000 from the MacRobert Trust which has helped to develop the trainees' own projects for their SQA modules.
• Gerald and Alan jointly constructed a wild life pond in the garden with a grant of £1,000 from the Truemark Trust.
• Bill has worked at both H.O.P.E. and Angus College to construct a picnic area within the garden, with picnic tables and bird tables.