Dale progresses through the Grow programmes to pursue a career in uniformed services. 

After working as a Grow Gardeners trainee for six months, Dale is taking his next step to complete a Level 1 Diploma in uniformed services. This is a great step forward for him!! Dale, 20, first engaged with Grow  through the spring 2020 Grow Programme, he then progressed on to the Walk and Talk programme that Autumn, before securing a job as a Grow Gardeners trainee in March 2021. 

As a Grow Gardners trainee, Dale worked in a small team alongside a Team Leader, providing gardening services to clients across Sheffield. Trainees benefit from learning practical gardening skills, wider employability skills, coaching from Team Leaders, and a secure wage! Before Dale moved on we sat down with him and asked him to reflect on what he enjoyed as a Grow Gardener trainee, here are some of the highlights of what he said

“I learned a lot about flowers, weeds, perennials, and how to take care of them, like deadheading and pruning”.  “It’s actual employment, so it’s helped me out through lockdown… it was good to learn new things. It’s been getting me out during lockdown more than I would have so that’s been good.”

Talking about how the trainee programme has benefitted him, Dale says: ‘It’s got me into a set routine with going to work, so it’s helped me prepare for the new course with schedules. And I know this course is going to be physically harder so it’s helped me prepare for that.”

Dale says “I’d recommend Grow Gardeners to others. It’s a good start for someone who hasn’t worked before, you could definitely do Grow Gardeners and progress to whatever you want to be as it doesn’t limit you to just gardening.”

Sarah, Grow Gardeners Programme Coordinator, says:

“It’s been great to see Dale come out of his shell over the last few months as a Grow Gardener. Alongside the practical gardening skills he’s developed, he’s developed wider employability skills such as using his initiative, problem solving, helping other trainees and continually developing his skills.”