GROW Ltd seeks new chairperson

Thursday 09 August 2018

Guernsey's Rural Occupational Workshop - GROW - is looking for a new chairperson to apply and take up the role.

Its current chairman, Patrick Palmer, has been in place for 15 years and decided to step down at the end of 2018. The charity would like to hear from people interested in taking on the role so they can come and shadow Mr Palmer before he departs.

Mr Palmer has been involved with the charity - which produces garden plants, vegetables and garden furniture – for 30 years as a director and 15 years as chairman. 

The board has expressed its gratitude for his “tireless commitment” to Grow Limited: "Mr. Palmer has seen the organisation develop into a key player in supporting the less fortunate in our society, particularly the learning disabled".

A spokesperson for GROW added it was looking for applications for the role by the end of the August to give any replacement time to work with Mr Palmer before his finishing date.

GROW itself was founded by the Guernsey Society for the Mentally Handicapped (now Guernsey Mencap LBG) and officially opened by the then Bailiff Sir Charles Frossard in July 1984. Its function is to provide training and a sheltered work environment in horticulture for people with a learning disability.

The charity is also currently working to develop a new Service Level Agreement with the Committee for Employment and Social Security which it hopes will increase the opportunities for its clients. By working with E&SS, the charity believes it will be in a better position from which to launch a “wholesale reshaping” of the Grow site as part of a two-year rebuild project, which will cost some £2.5m. and require a “significant community effort” to achieve. 

Pictured: Mr Palmer accepts the gift of a new vehicle for GROW's community team.