Bankside Open Spaces Trust is partnering with the Cloud Gardener to raise £10,000 for their Future Gardeners Programme through Earth Raise
Running from 22–29 April, the campaign will see all public donations doubled for one week only, offering supporters the chance to make twice the impact in tackling the UK’s horticultural skills shortage while transforming lives through green careers.
Future Gardeners provides free, accredited horticultural training, mentoring and work experience to people facing barriers to employment. Since launching in 2016, the programme has helped participants gain practical skills and confidence, with around 76% of graduates progressing into jobs in the industry.
The initiative responds to a growing national challenge: a critical shortage of skilled horticultural workers alongside limited access to green career pathways, particularly for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
Through Earth Raise, BOST aims to raise £10,000 to support more people into training, helping them access meaningful employment while contributing to greener, healthier urban communities.
Louisa Mansfield, Future Gardeners Programme Manager, Bankside Open Spaces Trust said:
“Future Gardeners is about more than learning horticulture – it’s about opening doors. We support people to build confidence, gain qualifications and take their first steps into a rewarding green career. With the support of Earth Raise, every donation will go twice as far in helping us reach more people who need this opportunity most.”
BOST is partnering with Jason Williams AKA the Cloud Gardener to help amplify the campaign and kicked off the campaign with a workshop for past students at Bankside Open Spaces Trust last week. The event featured a talk, questions and answers session, basic growing and creating a cut-flower bed to be used by upcoming Future Gardeners students!
Please check out @bostse1 and @cloudgardeneruk for ongoing updates on the campaign.
Please click here to donate now - https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000BMqBJYA1