Budding disabled gardeners learning qualifications that will allow themselves to find horticultural jobs received a much needed early Christmas present in 2013.
Share Community, a charity dedicated to helping disabled people gain workplace qualifications and skills in Wandsworth for the past 40 years, has received £9,519 from the Gannett Foundation to bring electricity to a community garden.
Every year Gannett, the company that owns The Wandsworth Guardian, hands out thousands to support small time causes.
Assistant editor Nick Hitchens handed the cheque to charity chief executive Annie McDowall and horticulture manager Jenny Shand at the garden, on the Springfield Hospital site, Tooting.
Ms McDowall said: "This is an incredible Christmas present. We will use this to bring power to the garden and into our green house so we can propagate all year round.
Ms Shand added; "Having power to heat and light the glass house takes the element of risk out. Up to now you are always at the mercy of the weather. Now we can grow all year and have confidence of success.
Produce grown, which includes flowers, fruit and vegetables, is served at the charities café, turned into preserves, and given to local allotment groups.
The Gannett Foundation grants applications for next year begin soon, and applications can be made for between £5,000 and £10,000.
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