National Star awarded £5,000 grant from Torfaen Food Partnership
National Star has received £5,000 from The Torfaen Food Partnership Food4Growth Torfaen, part of the Torfaen Food Resilience Programme.
Young adults with disabilities are playing their part to make Torfaen more sustainable, thanks to a grant.
National Star, a specialist college for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties, has received £5,000 from The Torfaen Food Partnership Food4Growth Torfaen, part of the Torfaen Food Resilience Programme.
The money will enable the students to grow fruit and vegetables at their campus in Mamhilad and work with other community organisations.
Students will be able to learn about how food is grown and how to use it as part of their healthy cooking sessions while reducing reliance on the use of supermarkets.
Part of the money will be used to create raised beds and make the greenhouse wheelchair accessible. The college aims to develop partnerships with local food bank and producers to broaden the students’ experiences and enable them to be an active part of the community.
“We’re so thankful to Torfaen Council for this grant. We work with young people to prepare them for adulthood and this grant means we can provide greater learning experiences beyond the classroom,” said Rebecca Roberts, Curriculum Manager at National Star.
“Everyone of us has a role to play to make our community more sustainable and that goes without saying for the young people here. They may need more specialised support, or to do things a different way, but each of them have so much to give to the community.”
The college has a strong relationship with the Café on the Park, based at Mamhilad estate. This year learners took on volunteer work experience at Hill City, making meals to share with others while others worked with the Garnsychan Partnership food bank in Pontypool.
“The Torfaen Food Partnership are thrilled to be able to welcome National Star young people and staff to the Food Partnership and to award them with a Community Food Grant,” said Sam Kemp, Torfaen Food Partnership Officer.
“We look forward to working in partnership to develop a sustainable and fair food system that provides affordable and heathy food for all.”
The Food Resilience Programme is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and Welsh Government.
