A CHARITY that helps adults with learning disabilities gain work experience has been given a £7,750 cash boost by a Winchester-based engineering firm.

The Boaz Project at Hill Farm in Sutton Scotney was awarded the funding by RJM International to support its work with adults with special needs looking to find jobs in horticulture.

Boaz manager Stuart Palmer said he was extremely grateful for the generous donation which has been used to improve lighting in the barn and buy a new, fast chiller unit for healthy “farm to fork” meals cooked on site using fresh produce grown in the allotment garden. 

The 4.5-acre site includes a greenhouse and two polytunnels to extend the growing season.
Boaz is home to a free-range flock of 120 egg-laying chickens as well as donkeys, sheep, lambs and guineapigs. Plans in the pipeline include upgrades to a chicken coop, thanks to the RJM funding. 

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Andover Advertiser: Boaz member Tony shaking hands with Christopher Biggs of RJM International

Stuart said: “The shocking reality is less than five per cent of adults with learning disabilities are in paid employment. That’s why initiatives like Boaz are so important as we seek to help young adults with a learning disability and/or autism reach their full potential. 

“We offer a rich variety of farming related activities, including horticulture, animal care, woodworking, craft and cookery classes. In the supportive and enabling environment we create everyone can participate to the best of their abilities. Some of our members could make great employees, but just need the right opportunities.”

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Christopher Biggs, head of global marketing for RJM International, a power sector engineering business, said: “We at RJM are really impressed by the tremendous work being done by the team at Boaz and its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of these adults with learning disabilities and helping prepare them to enter the workplace.” 

RJM International is an award-winning, specialist provider of services aimed at the power, industrial plant, biomass and waste to energy sectors. It focuses on helping suppliers transition to low to zero carbon generation. 

For more information on Boaz see boazproject.co.uk.