HortAbility
Free horticulture course for people with disabilities
Hortability is a bespoke programme designed by Central YMCA and the Monday Charitable Trust to engage, support and train disabled people to start a career in the horticulture industry.
With its first two cohorts in Salford, the programme is tailored to meet individual needs, with a reduced tutor-to-learner ratio, shorter days and specialised equipment. You will gain a good basic understanding of the horticulture industry while getting practical gardening skills in a realistic setting. You could go into a fulfilling career working in a wide-range of places from sports grounds to garden centres.
What does the course cover?
The programme involves participating in a Practical Horticulture Skills course, a ten-day course designed to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to begin your career as a horticulturist. The course will lead to a nationally recognised City & Guilds qualification, the Level 1 Award in Practical Horticulture Skills.
You’ll learn a variety of skills such as:
For your assessment, you’ll give practical demonstrations of the skills you learned throughout the course.
“This course has got me motivated. Before the course, I was sat inside the house 24/7. I’ve enjoyed getting out of the house the most and meeting different people. I like chatting with other learners and helping them if they’re struggling. I want to get a job that’s anything to do with gardening.”
James – Hortability student, who is hearing impaired