Community Employment

Growing Futures:
Employment, Training & Coaching for Young People in Dorset

Transforming Barriers into Pathways

Our mission is to help young people across Dorset overcome barriers to employment, education and training. Whether it’s through hands-on paid work in garden maintenance, nationally accredited horticulture qualifications, or one-to-one life coaching for those at risk of becoming NEET, our programmes unlock potential, build confidence, and change lives.

We work with:

Young people with SEND
Adults facing social or educational disadvantage
Schools, social workers, local authorities and community partners

Employers and organisations committed to inclusive recruitment.

Supported Employment

DCA GreenCare: Transforming Gardens, Transforming Lives

Accredited Training

Gardening Workshops and Courses with ‘Seed2Plate’

NEET Coaching

1 to 1 Life-Coaching for Young People at Risk of Becoming NEET

Why People and Partners Choose Us

Wrap-around support – Unlike volume providers, we combine accredited training, in-work job coaching, and pastoral care, increasing retention and long-term progression.
Flexible partnership – From social enterprises to SEND schools, we co-design placements and volunteering pathways that fit each partner’s goals rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all model.
Accredited, Inclusive Training – As an NOCN centre, our courses are quality-assured and nationally recognised. We deliver horticulture qualifications in informal, welcoming environments that work for learners others often overlook.
Coaches That Truly Connect – Our one-to-one coaching team is rooted in the local area. With deep relational work and small caseloads, they support young people from school disengagement through to successful post-16 transitions.
Practical, Proven, Person-Centred – From coaching to training, every offer is tailored to individual needs. We’ve designed our services to meet learners and customers where they are—and help them grow from there.
Local roots, local impact – We are Dorset-based and Dorset-focused, so every pound invested stays in the county, creating community benefit rather than disappearing into a national contract provider.

As an employment partner, we work with partner organisations sharing our values to deliver programmes that work:

Supported Employment (GreenCare)

Paid garden maintenance roles for young people with SEND
Services provided to vulnerable and elderly residents
Tasks include grass cutting, clearance, hedge trimming, fence painting and more
Supervised by professionals with safeguarding training
Flexible one-off or regular bookings, with transparent pricing

Accredited Training (Seed2Plate)

Level 1 Award in Horticulture (NOCN)
Bite-sized tasters, 4-week community courses, volunteer pathways
Practical sessions in real gardens; small groups with SEN-aware trainers
Produces food for foodbanks and plants for sale, combining learning with social good

NEET Coaching

For Year 10–11 students at risk of disengaging from education
Weekly face-to-face sessions with trusted coaches in the BCP area
Focused on motivation, goal-setting and post-16 transition

Ongoing support continues into college, apprenticeships or work.

Inclusive by Design

We don’t expect young people to fit into the system, we design our services around them.

Real Results

From paid employment to accredited qualifications to reduced NEET rates, our impact is measurable and meaningful.

Reinforcing the Local Economy

By training and employing Dorset residents, we help strengthen the local workforce and reduce long-term dependency.

Is there a cost to participants and partners?

Our programmes are free for eligible participants. Funding will depend on the programme: we run a mixed income model of trading income and contracts, grant funding, and partner contributions, depending on the service.

What areas of Dorset do you cover?

We operate county-wide, with hubs in Dorchester and Wimborne.

Why not stick with mainstream providers?

Because we go deeper. Our small-scale, relationship-led model delivers higher engagement and better long-term outcomes—without the bureaucracy.

Is the work too complex for trainees?

All our work is professionally supervised, and trainees are supported to succeed. Challenging jobs are handled by our skilled staff, ensuring consistent, high-quality outcomes.

Do you only offer horticulture roles?

Currently yes, though we would love to talk to partners about developing other opportunities including home help, cleaning, and other entry level jobs providing services to the community.

My class of 12 SEND students can be difficult to motivate, but with Lydia’s guidance they raised £84 for the Seed-to-Plate project, planted the crops, and donated produce to the local food bank. The 12-week project showed them they can make a real difference to their community. We couldn’t have done it without Dorset Community Action.

Angie Read

Sixth-Form Teacher, Westfield Arts College

Ready to Get Started?

For GreenCare gardening services or Seed2Plate training contact:
Lydia Harvey
📧 Lydia.harvey@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
📞 07421 994591

For coaching partnerships or stakeholder enquiries contact:

Paul Seaman, Programme Manager
📧 paul.seaman@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
📞 07421 994587

Stay in the Loop

Be the first to hear about new training opportunities, seasonal gardening tips, and trainee success stories. Join our mailing list

Partner With Us

We welcome new collaborations from:

Employers with grounds maintenance needs
Schools and social services referring young people
Funders and sponsors supporting training and inclusion

Let’s grow opportunity together. Reach out today to explore how we can work in partnership