The Caritas St Joseph’s Gardening Service supports adults with intellectual disabilities to develop their skills and access meaningful employment. In response to the disproportionately high rates of unemployment among people with disabilities, the service operates as a training-based work placement, where students can undertake commercial gardening work for parishes and private clients across London.

Students typically start as volunteers building their knowledge and practical abilities in horticulture and hands-on gardening tasks. Where appropriate, they can then progress into paid roles through our dedicated work pathway. We are currently supporting three students in paid work placements, with more joining the programme in the coming year.

Who we are

Caritas St Joseph’s is a project of Caritas Westminster, the social action arm of the Diocese of Westminster. Since 1977, our lifelong learning centre in Hendon, North London, has provided a supportive community and tailored, holistic support for over 200 adults with intellectual disabilities annually. Our skilled tutors deliver a varied programme of 54 courses ranging from fitness to vocational training and creative arts, designed to develop students’ independence, social and communication skills, and overall health and wellbeing. We also offer a Family and Outreach Support Service, providing spiritual and pastoral support to 350 families whose loved ones have intellectual disabilities.

The mission of Caritas Westminster is to attend to those at greatest risk of exclusion through poverty, disability, isolation and exploitation. We do this through a combination of direct service delivery — such as Caritas St Joseph’s — and indirect community development support. We reach over 48,000 people per year, operating within the diocesan boundaries that broadly include North London and Hertfordshire. Whilst we are firmly rooted in Catholic values, our projects welcome people of all faiths and none.

Why our work matters

We know that most people with an intellectual disability can and want to work, but too often face obstacles due to a lack of appropriate training and support. Finding dignified work is so much more than securing a regular income — it’s also crucial for cultivating a regular routine, a sense of purpose, for developing peer relationships and fostering social inclusion.

About the project

Our Gardening Service looks after private gardens as well as those in and around parish premises, carrying out tasks such as weeding, planting, and general maintenance. We also respond to specific one-off requests in relation to special occasions. By contributing to the maintenance of valued community spaces, our work also benefits parishioners, clergy and other Mass attendees at the churches we serve. The income raised from such projects contributes to our continued support for people with intellectual disabilities.

Students can volunteer with the service, giving them the opportunity to adjust to the role and for us to assess their capability. If they can handle the role safely, we progress them through a work assessment so that they are qualified to take on the work placement. One example is Radek, our current Learning Support Assistant, who began as a student at the centre before undertaking a placement with the gardening service, and is now a pay-rolled member of staff. 

We work closely with other courses and enterprises operating at the centre; plants grown in our horticulture class are then sold to our parish clients via the gardening service, while students of our woodwork and ceramics courses are involved in creating wooden planters and ceramic pots for us to sell.

At Caritas St Joseph’s, we have our own vegetable garden, poly tunnel and orchard; all of which require regular maintenance. We are so grateful to have the support of the Westhill Endowment Fund which will allow us to employ a temporary Gardening Assistant for one year to take on the more practical responsibilities associated with looking after our garden and ensure we can continue selling high-quality produce and materials. The Gardening Assistant will also work with the students who volunteer with our Gardening Service, preparing them to take on the responsibilities of the role the following year.