This is some of the feedback we have received so far about the project…
Comments from young people:
- ‘I enjoy helping out’
- ‘Creative’ ‘Awesome’ ‘Happy’
- ‘I want to come again’
- ‘Brilliant, exciting’
- ‘I like coming every fortnight’
- It was fun watering the carrots
- It was fun and I really want to go again
- Happy I found a new hobby
- I can do fun stuff and play with my new friends
- ‘I felt it was a good activity because I learnt new things’
- ‘I like making willow tunnel, I like planting plants, I have fun and make friends. Green Fingers is fun’
- ‘Great fun, made new friends! It has made me more confident in speaking’
Comments from carers:
‘L has gained more confidence and interacting with others both adults and peers‘ Foster Carer
‘It is difficult to find activities for three young children all with different needs and capabilities, in the sessions at Bromsgrove they have provided opportunities for all three children to have fun and try out new things. They show real awareness of each child’s individual needs and encourage them accordingly. We need more activities from ISL who have the best understanding of the children we care for’ Foster Carer
‘The children look forward to Green Fingers’ Foster Carer
‘I just wanted to tell you what a beautiful, gorgeous centre you have created at Green Fingers. It was so special to hear the kids running around laughing, but also learning and listening as they went’ Foster Carer
We feel that Green Fingers has provided a wonderful insight into the way plant life can give lots of varieties of food as well as flowers and fruit, and the foster children have grown lots of different plants from seeds. They have also seen the benefits of recycling of plastic cups for growing all sorts, making things from oddments of wood, wool waste and paper etc. i.e. Butterflies, Christmas dec’s etc. We have also made up things from natural green belt materials e.g. Willow tunnels and play areas. Green Fingers also hold wonderful open day events to learn social skills, which are very well organised which the children enjoy! Rain or shine whatever the weather! Foster Carer
‘We have been bringing L our 4 year old foster child to Green Fingers for the last 12 months. We have all very much enjoyed this facility as an additional activity. L loves being outside doing things in a structured environment. Green Fingers tick all the boxes in this respect. He really enjoys the company of the other children who attend. He never seems to notice when we get inclement weather, in fact the opposite is true, when it is howling a gale outside as it often has, he finds this great fun’ Foster Carer
‘I am writing to thank you for all the support we have had from you. J has always struggled with social skills and spent a lot of leisure time alone. Since he has taken part in The Green Fingers Project he has become a different person. He now interacts with his peers and has made many friends. His confidence and self-esteem have now lifted considerably since he has had the support and help from your team. We thank you for your much needed help and look forward to the fantastic Summer Activities’ Foster Carer
‘S (young person) is going through a very difficult time with school at the moment and is very clingy, but she has absolutely loved the mornings with us and talks about it all the way home. She already seems to have more confidence” The foster carer wanted to say “thank you as S really needed this’ Foster Carer
‘C looks forward to Green Fingers, it has given her the confidence to try different activities. She is particularly proud of the painting on canvas she did and it now has pride of place in my daughter’s kitchen. Drama and photography is another favourite activity which she has thoroughly enjoyed, being able to see what she has achieved has boosted her self esteem and she continues to enjoy the project’ Foster Carer
Comments from Social Workers:
‘This project has made a huge difference to confidence of young people I’m working with’ Residential Support Worker
‘Green Fingers have offered support for all young people regardless of their age or ability. I have seen young people grow and flourish and become more confident individuals through the support of this project. This project has also provided invaluable networking opportunities for carers and professionals’ Social Worker
‘I have 3 young people who clearly have benefited from participating the ISL Green Fingers project. One of the young people has regularly attended the arts sessions and this has helped raise her self esteem and confidence. Another young person has just begun to attend the sessions and has had little interaction with other young people of her age, I believe that already she has made friends with another young person her age and appeared to enjoy taking part in activates that were quite unfamiliar with her. The last young person 12months ago was not involved in any activities outside his foster placement; he was having significant issues within the placement which resulted in a placement move. Since being with his current carer he has begun to attend Green Fingers and flourished in confidence. He still remains a quiet young person but has clearly benefited in the opportunity for support in raising his self esteem and confidence. As an older young person he has enjoyed being able to take more of an assistant leader role which has also prepared him greatly for his 16plus career plans’ Social Worker
‘I have a few children I work with who access Green Fingers Sessions and all have found it really positive. The children who I work with are particularly challenging children who struggle with social skills and the project has enabled them to socialise in a highly supported environment. The art award is particularly beneficial and it is positive that they are supported to achieve. I have other children who I have promoted the project to who are keen to become involved in the future with these sessions. I believe the project has enabled the children to integrate with others and have time away from their placement which gives both themselves and their foster carers a break’ Social Worker
‘Green Fingers has had a massive impact on one of our young people. It has given him the opportunity to form further positive relationships, engage in outdoor activities such as gardening and woodwork, and he truly enjoys the time he spends at Top Barn’ Social Worker
‘K has been attending Top Barn every other week for the past 3 months. She really enjoys these sessions and they have given her a real boost to her confidence. K can at times be withdrawn and struggles to interact with her peers. The Green Fingers project has given her a positive activity to do that she can share with her peers and the boost that this has given to her confidence has been marked. It also gives K the chance to develop positive relationships with adults in a non formal environment which is very positive’ Social Worker
‘D really struggles at school socially and emotionally. The Arts award is something that he is very proud of and has boosted his self esteem and confidence. D has been supported to do a presentation in front of his peers which he was very proud of. He has also produced work which he has been able to take home which he is also proud of. This award has been very important for D and has supported his school placement giving him a level of enjoyment and achievement at school which was not previously there’ Social Worker
Comments from other people:
‘My first experience of Green Fingers and it is so impressive, such a good facility for all’ ISL Member of Staff
‘I have been to the site many times before; however, I am always blown away by how the site is progressing. Fabulous project for everyone involved and I hope it continues to grow year on year’ ISL Member of Staff
‘When I come to Top Barn I feel much more relaxed and rejuvenated, it is such a therapeutic environment you can’t help to feel better in yourself’ Green Fingers Staff
‘Just sitting on the bench looking out onto the beautiful open countryside is so therapeutic for S, you can tell he loves it here’ Residential Support Worker
‘I think the site is wonderful, and a testament to all your hard work, and that of the young people, carers and volunteers. It has such a tranquil feeling and the space is used so imaginatively. I particularly loved the willow trees and the sunflower competition’ ISL Team Manager
‘I have seen firsthand this project develop greatly and at every stage young people have been consulted and included, ensuring every suggestion is valued.” Children’s Home Manger
Comments received from young people doing reparation work on site with the Youth Offending Service:
‘It makes it more meaningful and more worth while’
‘I have enjoyed doing the gardening’
‘A peaceful / calming site’