Supported Employment
DCA GreenCare: Transforming Gardens, Transforming Lives
At DCA GreenCare, a simple idea has grown into a thriving social enterprise, where meaningful employment and community care go hand in hand. We’re transforming lives across Dorset by offering supported, entry-level roles in garden maintenance for young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those facing barriers to work.
Through our Supported Employment programme, participants gain real-world experience, confidence, and a wage, while delivering valued services to older and vulnerable residents in our communities.
Join us on this journey of growth and inclusion. With every garden we tend, we’re not just improving outdoor spaces, we’re creating brighter futures.
🌿 A Service with Social Impact
Every job we take on directly supports young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those facing barriers to employment. Your garden helps someone grow.
🛠 We Take on the Tough Jobs
Overgrown, neglected, or just too much to manage? We roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, restoring even the most challenging gardens to safe, usable spaces.
💰 Affordable and Transparent Pricing
We offer competitive, honest pricing with no hidden extras. Our goal is to make professional garden care accessible to those who need it most.
🔍 Safe, Trusted, and Reliable
Our staff are DBS checked, trained in safeguarding, and supervised by experienced professionals. You can feel confident in the care we provide.
💬 Friendly, Personal Service
We pride ourselves on being approachable, responsive, and easy to work with. Many of our customers say it’s the people, not just the service, that make the difference.
🌱 Eco & Wildlife Friendly Approach
Where possible, we use battery-powered tools, promote pollinator planting, and give advice on sustainable gardening that’s kind to people and planet.
By choosing DCA GreenCare, you’re not only improving your outdoor space, you’re investing in your community and helping create lasting change.
Whether you need regular upkeep or a one-off clearance, our skilled team supported by experienced supervisors, delivers reliable, high-quality work with care and attention to detail. We work with private residents, housing associations, and local organisations to meet a wide range of gardening needs, including:
- Grass cutting and lawn care
- Strimming along fence lines and hard-to-reach areas
- Shrub and border maintenance, including light pruning and shaping
- Weeding of paths and hard standings to reduce slip hazards
- Hedge trimming to maintain neat boundaries
- Seasonal planting to bring colour and structure to your space
- Garden clearance, including bramble and overgrown shrub removal
- Green waste collection and disposal
- Wildlife-friendly gardening advice to support pollinators and biodiversity
- Fence painting and light repairs to timber structures and boundaries
Current Service Limitations
While we offer a wide variety of services, there are a few tasks we are currently unable to undertake, including:
- Tree work or hedge trimming over 2 metres in height
- Spraying of herbicides or pesticides
- Removal of non-garden waste (e.g. domestic, electrical, or hazardous items)
- Removal of dog waste
We are always happy to refer you to a trusted local partner for these services where possible.
Transparent Pricing
We offer fair and competitive pricing that reflects industry standards, while ensuring our services remain accessible and socially impactful.
Below are typical costs:
- Monthly grass cutting + basic upkeep: from £25
- Small garden clearance: from £80
- Medium garden clearance: from £160
- Large garden clearance: from £320
- Green waste disposal (soft waste like grass clippings): from £5 per bag
All jobs are quoted individually after a free site survey, so you’ll always know exactly what to expect—no hidden charges, no surprises.
Supporting Others
We provide real world employment opportunities for Long-Term Unemployed and SEND young people
Trustworthy
Provides trusted service to older and vulnerable members of the community
Giving Back
We’re not just a business; we’re a social enterprise. Every penny of profit goes right back into supporting our trainees
Yes, with sites in Weymouth, and Wimborne, we are well positioned to provide our services across central southern, and east Dorset.
No, for large scale clearance work e.g. brambles and shrubs, please note that once sites have been cleared that prevention of further regrowth will be needed to allow the garden to recover. Bramble and other invasive weeds have extensive root systems which will need to be treated following clearance work. We can recommend some natural methods to do this.
Yes, you can save money on disposal costs by composting soft green waste in your own garden. It’s good for your pocket – composting your kitchen and garden waste at home saves on car journeys to the household recycling centre, and provides you with your own versatile, valuable free resource.
Dorset Council is offering a black 220 litre compost converter bin for only £6. If you order a second one, it will be half price. There is a delivery charge of £6.99 per order on top of this.
Absolutely. One-off jobs are ideal taster sessions that often lead to regular visits.
For routine maintenance, the minimum visit is 1 hour. One-off projects are priced individually.
“I’m worried the job might be too complex for trainees.”
All our work is supervised by experienced team leaders who ensure every task is completed to a high standard. Trainees are carefully matched to jobs that suit their skills and are always supported on-site. Complex tasks are handled by our professional staff, while trainees gain confidence through meaningful, manageable work that helps them grow.
“Will appointments be cancelled if a trainee is unwell?”
No—your service won’t be disrupted. We always have experienced staff on every job, and if a trainee is unavailable, our team adjusts to ensure the work still goes ahead as scheduled. In rare cases where rescheduling is necessary, we’ll give you advance notice and arrange an alternative date promptly. Our reliability is our priority.
“Is a charity more expensive?”
We’re competitively priced—neither the cheapest nor the most expensive. Our rates reflect industry standards, but with one key difference: every pound we earn is reinvested into training, mentoring, and creating long-term employment pathways for young people with SEND. When you choose us, you’re not just paying for a service—you’re helping change lives.
Our training programme was set up with support of the RHS Flourish Fund, and we have partnered with SEND schools such as EMA (Employ My Ability) to deliver this training for their students.
Ready to Start?
If you are wanting to book a free site visit please contact:
Lydia Harvey, Enterprise Co-ordinator
Lydia.harvey@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
07421 994591
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We are looking for new collaborations with organisations, who can support through:
- Providing partnership funding for staff time to support SEND young people;
- Grounds maintenance contracts that could be delivered by our GreenCare team;
- Referrals onto programme.
Contact us to discuss options for becoming a partner:
Paul Seaman, Programme Manager
paul.seaman@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk 07421 994587