Lotto team joins forces for charity
IT was spades at the ready for National Lottery operator Camelot’s retail sales team and their counterparts at James Hall Spar, who joined forces to weed, prune and cultivate new crops for WeGrowCo – a social enterprise in Southport that grows and sells seasonal vegetables.
WeGrowCo is part of the charity Autism Initiatives, and is designed to help people with autism to gain valuable skills in a safe environment that is suited to their needs and which can be carried with them on their journey from training into employment.
WeGrowCo has particular significance to the group from Camelot – the group spent a day volunteering at the charity last year too – because it is supported by the Big Lottery Fund’s local food programme and has received over £188,000 in funding.
The funds helped develop this innovative project, converting a rundown garden centre into a thriving community hub.
Jon Gordon of Autism Initiatives said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the initial funding – it has enabled us to get this award-winning, successful social enterprise up and running.
“We have supported over 20 people with autism in work placements over the last 12 months and provided tons of fresh local vegetables.
“We value our longstanding relationship with the Camelot team and the support they give us, and we’re working really hard to build on our success.”
Camelot’s Andrea Samson, who organised the volunteering day, said: “Our joint effort meant work that would usually take two weeks to finish took us a matter of hours.
“It was great for us all to get stuck in to such a worthwhile project and really brought to life the life-changing difference that National Lottery funding makes.”
To find out more email edna. green@ autisministration.org, call 0151 330 9500 or visit: http://www. autisminitiatives. org/ social-enterprises/ wegrowco/.