Planting seeds for employment success

Short term pain for long term gain is the goal as Selmes’ Community Trust looks to help as many people as possible find work.

Funding cuts have left the organisation’s budget overstretched.

The constraints have seen the popular Blenheim garden centre restructure, with ten paid staff losing their positions. Five others swapped to voluntary roles.

But behind the tears, there is a silver lining explains Selmes’ General Manager Angel Cooper – one that will benefit more people.

“Most of the tears came from me I’ll admit, because after two and a half years here we as a trust asked ourselves if we’re doing the best service we can by our team.

“We’re hoping this will open avenues for employment in fellow nurseries, viticulture, horticulture and reforestation projects…it’s still being fleshed out as we’re looking for new channels and a wider impact.

“We want both a Selmes work experience training program, and a more flexible, social, friendly volunteer team.”

Knowing team members have been successful in finding work due in part to their experience with Selmes is a comfort to Angel.

“We must be doing something right,” she says.

It is a vital pathway to paid employment for intellectually disabled Marlburians.

With only so many paid positions, it’s been hard having some of their team leave, Angel says.

She hopes the community will step in and help build new partnerships.

“Doing that on a grander scale will hopefully mean so much more to the intellectually disabled community we serve here in Marlborough going forward”.