Skills for Life
If you are interested in growing your own food or growing food for others there are courses and gardening groups in the area that you can join for free. There are also courses for employment skills, mental wellbeing and basic cookery.
Please be aware that gardening and outdoor sessions and courses are often seasonal and may only operate in the summer months. Other courses may run all year round.
Learning, training and skills for food growing, cooking, well-being and employment
Groundwork East - employment skills, short courses and drop-in gardening sessions
Tel: 01582 720147 east@groundwork.org.uk
NOAH Academy – skills and welfare courses
Tel: 01582 726152 academy@noahenterprise.org
Active Luton – community health and wellbeing
Tel: 01582 256000 www.activeluton.co.uk/community-health-wellbeing
Total Wellbeing at Active Luton – supporting health and wellbeing
Call: 0300 555 4152 www.totalwellbeingluton.org
Luton Adult Learning courses
Tel: 01582 490033 info@lutonacl.ac.uk
ELFT Recovery College courses - for physical and mental wellbeing
Call: 01582 708917 or 01234 263621 elft.recoverycollege@nhs.net
www.elft.nhs.uk/services/bedfordshire-and-luton-recovery-college
Penrose Roots recovery garden - horticulture skills and support group
Tel: 07805 739238 roots@penrose.org.uk
The Ameina Centre - support for work experience, skills and well-being
Tel: 0333 320 4401 or 07949 290916 info@ameina.co.uk
Woodcraft Folk - environmental youth group
High Town Methodist church, Luton
Tel: 07811209368 luton@woodcraft.org.uk
Growing Spaces
Across Luton there are a number of public food growing spaces which are free to access. These sites are managed and all tools, seeds and plants are provided. Any produce grown can be taken away for free by the individuals who help at the project and is also given out to those in need.
You can choose to dig potatoes or just come and sit and have a cup of tea.
The benefits of being outdoors in the community gardens include:
• Fresh air and the sounds of the outdoors
• Company and friendship
• Being busy and purposeful
• Relaxation
• Exercise
• A weekly activity to look forward to
• Working at your own speed and level
• Dropping in when you feel able
Be a local champion
If you would like to support food poverty alleviation in Luton you can get involved by volunteering your time to a range of activities such as growing, cooking, sharing or distributing food. As a volunteer you may gain access to training opportunities and gain valuable skills for future employment.
If you’re interested in getting involved in one of the many growing projects across the town get in touch: rosie.cliffe@groundwork.org.uk for more information.
You can choose to dig potatoes or just come and sit and have a cup of tea...
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