Certitude is a charity incorporated under the Cooperative and Community Benefit Society which helps to create futures for those with learning disabilities and mental health needs to ensure that they have the same opportunities and rights to a good life as everyone else.  Support comes in many forms from essential round the clock support to independent living in the community; from training and mentoring to build skills and confidence, to support in finding fulfilling and reasonably paid employment.

As an Arts Resource Centre, the ARC specialises in providing those with learning disabilities and mental health needs access to art, music and other sensory stimulation. The garden project is key to this, providing a number of “sensory” areas that can be enjoyed by all visiting depending upon their interests and capabilities.

The Scott Brownrigg team spent the weekend building six planters ranging in size, which can be accessed and easily used by wheelchair uses, and a seating area – all of which were made from railway sleepers. Other activities included the ground preparation and planting of a hedge, painting a fence, weeding and improving the existing plant beds for use by visitors.

The team was fortunate to have the opportunity to engage with some of the regular visitors, who tried out the teams’ handiwork and seemed truly delighted with the work that the team managed to achieve in such a short space of time.  A thoroughly rewarding experience for all involved.

The event was so successful that there are plans for a follow up to complete the Garden Project task.