SEND campus shuts public garden centre and cafe

Students will continue to contribute to Shaftesbury in Bloom

A garden centre and cafe attached to a training centre in Dorset for people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has closed to the public.

Employ My Ability (EMA) provides education and training at Thorngrove Garden Centre in Gillingham and the Walled Garden in Moreton.

But in a Facebook announcement, EMA said the garden centre and cafe at the Gillingham campus had now closed.

It said the commercial space would be repurposed for its educational and adult social care services.

EMA bought Thorngrove Garden Centre in 2017 from the charity Scope which was already running day services there.

Since being redeveloped and modernised, it has helped scores of students develop functional skills and gain vocational qualifications and work experience.

EMA bought Thorngrove Garden Centre in 2017

In a statement, it said it planned to use the cafe environment and kitchen to enhance its hospitality courses.

Managing director Steve White said EMA was committed to providing the "best settings possible for our education and adult social care services, both of which have found themselves in need of more space, and better facilities".

He said: "Many of our students and service users at Thorngrove have needs which must be put first in order to ensure appropriate safeguarding, as well as offering diverse opportunities for their future.

"While we will miss being able to serve customers in the cafe and the garden centre, we will proudly remain a part of the community as we take this positive step in ensuring the best outcomes for our young people and adults who already attend, and those who join us in the future."

He said students would continue to be involved in community projects, including collaborating with the award-winning Shaftesbury in Bloom.

The Walled Garden and cafe in Moreton will be unaffected by the changes and will remain open to the public.