Prospective Tenant - Organisation for people with learning difficulties

[suzynick]

Hello

I received an email from a local community asking if they could apply for an allotment. They explained that they were a small organisation (not a charity) who had vegetable gardening as part of their activities programme. They were already using someone else's plot elsewhere, but wanted to apply for a plot of their own.

I have emailed all our committee members to discuss, and have had a mixture of feedback which has also resulted in one member deciding to leave the committee as not everyone was in agreement! Some people

Has anyone got any experience of organisations on site? We are not a council owned allotment, we rent from a local farmer. In particular one with disability/learning difficulties.

Thanks in Advance

[Aberdeenplotter]

We have a local school for kids with learning difficulties on a plot on our private site. It works very well mainly because of the quality of the teachers who take their class out there. My own instinct is to insist that they have their own liability insurance in place. you don't want your own policy compromised in the event of any incidents.

[Bigmallly]

What a great idea, my initial thoughts would be that supervision was there at all times & that only x number were allowed on the plot at a time.

[sparrow100]

LB Sutton Council lease plots to Mencap - they have someone on site with their gardeners at all times, just to make sure any incidents are covered. Might be worth contacting the Council's allotment officer to see if they can give you any info. From my friend who has a plot on that site, there have been no issues so far. Mencap have put in all raised beds and sorted the path to allow wheelchair access. Plus I think they have special dispensation for using hoses in summer.

[muddled]

My daughter's club rent two allotments (on different sites).

Is yur concern about renting to a group (as in any group) or is it because this group is for people with learning disabilities?

[astraman1]

we have a group on our site and they do allright keep the plot tidy grow some things and keep busy they have someone on site with them but no diffrent to anyone else really why shouldnt they have there own plot

[KevinM67]

I currently work in a Special School, where we are lucky enough to now have our space on site to do our growing. However, a couple of things to maybe put your mind, and that of your Association, at rest....

Any organisation dealing with people with learning difficulties will have adequate insurance which will cover such situations, when undertaking an outside 'educational visit/pursuit. Ask to see their policy and keep a copy of it for your records. Also, ensure it is for at least £2M - although, this should be no problem.

Safeguarding is major responsibility for any type of organisation like this - so please be reassured that they will have the correct staffing ratios in place, relevant risk assessments carried out, etc. Again, their is no harm in asking for copies of these, plus their Health & Policy etc. Don't feel embarrassed about asking for these, they will be readily available.

Lastly, the absolute joy our kids get out of seeing things grow, where food comes from and the sense of doing something really constructive, whilst our society mainly shuns them from the world of work are invaluable life skills they learn.

Believe me - you, and your association, won't regret it. Enjoy !!!

[lottie dolly]

there is a special plot on our site,they are well supervised,we always say hello,and give any left over plants,give and take,

[alldigging]

Does your site have the facilities they might want? (Loo, running water etc)

What does your insurance say about non-related groups having plots - does one person have to be a keyholder and on site with them?

Decide on a full set of terms that everyone on the committee is happy with.

Maybe speak to the site they're currently on and ask how it's been for them.

[suzynick]

What a great idea, my initial thoughts would be that supervision was there at all times & that only x number were allowed on the plot at a time.

Thanks Bigmallly - The lady responded to say that there would be one person supervising no more than 5 people, however one of our committee members stated that a 5:1 ratio does not provide adequate supervision 'at all times' in this situation.

I'm not quite sure how someone came up with that assumption!?

[suzynick]

My daughter's club rent two allotments (on different sites).

Is yur concern about renting to a group (as in any group) or is it because this group is for people with learning disabilities?

A couple of members seem to have jumped the gun, and are coming up with all sorts of reasons as to why they shouldn't have a plot. They seem to forget we are a committee and we should be discussing it and resolving them if we can with the prospective tenants. Insurance, health and safety, no toilets, risk assessments.....

[suzynick]

I currently work in a Special School, where we are lucky enough to now have our space on site to do our growing. However, a couple of things to maybe put your mind, and that of your Association, at rest....

Any organisation dealing with people with learning difficulties will have adequate insurance which will cover such situations, when undertaking an outside 'educational visit/pursuit. Ask to see their policy and keep a copy of it for your records. Also, ensure it is for at least £2M - although, this should be no problem.

Safeguarding is major responsibility for any type of organisation like this - so please be reassured that they will have the correct staffing ratios in place, relevant risk assessments carried out, etc. Again, their is no harm in asking for copies of these, plus their Health & Policy etc. Don't feel embarrassed about asking for these, they will be readily available.

Lastly, the absolute joy our kids get out of seeing things grow, where food comes from and the sense of doing something really constructive, whilst our society mainly shuns them from the world of work are invaluable life skills they learn.

Believe me - you, and your association, won't regret it. Enjoy !!!

Thanks for your post, much appreciated!

[suzynick]

[QUOTE=alldigging;1415774]Does your site have the facilities they might want? (Loo, running water etc)

We don't have any facilities and I have told the lady this which she said wouldn't be a problem.

No idea about the insurance.

The site they are on is a friends plot apparently.

[alldigging]

[QUOTE=suzynick;1415787]

Does your site have the facilities they might want? (Loo, running water etc)

We don't have any facilities and I have told the lady this which she said wouldn't be a problem.

No idea about the insurance.

The site they are on is a friends plot apparently.

I would still contact the site secretary to ask about it.
It might highlight some potential issues that have come to light.

Ensuring insurance cover is in place for such group activities is important.

[bearded bloke]

I can't add anything to the comments already made, but I hope you get an amicable resolve in the shortest possible time.