Supporting Katy’s development

Our charity partner Thrive is one of the leading gardening for health charities in the UK. Over the last three years AWE and its staff have provided funds to support its use of social and therapeutic horticulture to supports client gardeners like Katy – who attends Thrive’s general sessions:

Katy is autistic and can be anxious. But entering the gardens at Thrive Reading offers a space where she feels safe and able to go at her own pace, which lowers her anxiety levels.

Katy has benefited in a number of ways through the sessions provided by Thrive’s therapists. Not only has Katy improved her gardening skills and horticultural knowledge; she has also learnt important life skills.

Making decisions is important for autistic people and deciding what to grow in her raised bed helps Katy to do this. Her creativity and confidence have grown. At home, for example, she designed a flower border to cheer up her neighbours during lockdown.

Working alongside other client gardeners brings social benefits for Katy and the encouraging nature of being in a small group has boosted her self-belief. And working on her own plot has given Katy to grow what she likes with a sense of ownership and empowerment.

For Katy, who admits she enjoys all gardening activities there is another benefit coming to Thrive: “it’s fun!”