Learning disability charity awarded £10k grant

Grow moved to a new purpose built facility in January

A charity which provides occupational training for people with learning disabilities has been awarded a £10,000 grant.

Grow Limited, which offers training opportunities through a vinery, workshop and café, has been awarded Dougie's Grant, which it plans to use to fund five flood benches in its glasshouses.

Dougie's Grant was set up in memory of local entrepreneur Dougie Le Huquet, who died aged 99 in 2021.

General Manager Mandy Mackelworth said the Grow team was "absolutely thrilled" to be chosen for the funding.

Grow moved to a new £3.5m headquarters in the Coutanchez in January 2024, before celebrating its 40th anniversary in July.

The new site allows the charity to offer a wider range of opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

Mr Le Huquet was a grower, who also owned a chain of chip shops and developed commercial and residential property in Guernsey, Jersey and the United States.

"I have read that Dougie was a grower who also liked woodwork and liked to cook. He would have loved the new Grow," said Mrs Mackelworth.

Grow said the flood benches would enable more efficient and effective watering of plants that are averse to being watered from above.

'Quality of applications'

Grow Limited was one of 19 applicants for the 2024 grant.

Dougie's daughter Michelle Knowles said: "The quality of the applications was again extremely high and we were delighted that so many worthy causes put themselves forward.

"We would encourage those charities who were unsuccessful on this occasion to reapply next year.

"Grow Limited has an affinity with my Dad in many ways. He was a grower who was always very forward-looking and innovative in embracing technology.

"He would have entirely approved of their adoption of flood benches to help improve the quality of their crop."