SCOTMID co-operative has awarded a £400 community grant to RESTART, a charity that seeks to relieve poverty in Edinburgh and London.
Erica Randall, Head Gardener at RESTART, said: “We are extremely proud to have been chosen by Scotmid’s East Regional Committee to be the recipients of £400 funding for our work within the ReDiscover Academy at Carlowrie Castle, specifically to be used towards the costs of gardening equipment.”
“The funding we have received from Scotmid will not only help our plants to grow, but also help us to give our students a high quality experience by providing them with the right materials to help them learn.”
ReDiscover is the educational division of RESTART, a ‘pre’-employability programme that helps our students, who have been unemployed for a long time, get back into the structure of routine, learning and work experience.
The Scottish team has launched the Carlowrie Castle project, an inspirational academy situated on the grounds of Carlowrie Castle in Edinburgh. The academy offers a range of courses in horticulture, construction and catering that provide positive social outcomes, as well as nationally recognised qualifications. Every student is mentored and nurtured through a ReDiscovery process of learning.
In 2014, the charity housed 8 people and connected a further 20 to employment.