Northampton care leavers given chance to grow confidence and learn new skills through community garden project

Nene Valley Care Trust supports young people leaving care across Northamptonshire, helping them develop life skills, improve their wellbeing and build a more secure future. Through its work with young people, the Trust provides opportunities to build confidence, access support and develop the skills they need for independent living.

A £2,000 grant from the Constance Travis Endowment Fund for Northamptonshire, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, has supported a community gardening project at the Goodwill Solutions site in Moulton Park. The project gives care leavers the opportunity to help develop and maintain a community garden, learn practical gardening skills and explore sustainability, while creating a shared space for young people to connect with others.

The project has helped improve young people’s emotional wellbeing and reduce isolation by providing a safe, supportive and youth-led environment. Through gardening sessions and one-to-one support, participants have built relationships, developed confidence and gained a greater sense of belonging. Some have also taken part in other opportunities, including a three-week skills bootcamp and a Connect to Work sign-up session, helping them take steps towards employment.

The garden is also bringing wider benefits to the community. Young people are contributing to a shared space used by staff at Goodwill Solutions, helping strengthen community connections and challenge stigma around care leavers. The project has also attracted donations of gardening items from Goodwill’s supply chain, reflecting the support it has received and helping the garden continue to develop.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £25 million in grants since its inception in 2001. This year marks an exciting milestone for NCF – 25 years of inspiring local giving for local needs. Building on this, NCF is also looking 25 years ahead, with bold ambition for a fairer, thriving and more connected county for generations to come. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.