Training for the armed forces community
Grow Your Own
A 10-week programme supporting the Armed Forces community to develop skills, confidence and leadership as community Growing Champions.
Grow Your Own is a 10-week practical gardening and leadership programme; it is designed to support progression, purpose and contribution through community growing.
The programme equips participants with practical skills and confidence, enabling them to play active roles in community spaces — as volunteers, peer leaders or Growing Champions.
Supporting the Veterans Strategy
Grow Your Own directly supports the Office for Veterans’ Affairs Veterans Strategy, helping ensure veterans are:
Supported through skill-building and wellbeing
Celebrated for their experience, contribution and leadership
Able to contribute meaningfully to their communities
How the Programme Works
Over ten weeks, participants develop:
Practical gardening and growing skills
Confidence working in shared spaces
Experience supporting and leading activity
Understanding of community growing projects
Outcomes & Impact
Practical skills
Transferable gardening and growing skills.
Community contribution
Actively support and strengthen local green spaces.
Leadership and confidence
Participants step into mentoring and leadership roles.
Progression pathways
Volunteering, further training or paid roles.
Alignment with the Government’s Defence Review
Grow Your Own supports the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, particularly Chapter Six: Make Britain Safer, by:
Strengthening community resilience
Supporting veterans to contribute positively to civil society
Building skills, leadership and social cohesion at a local level
Through community growing, the Armed Forces community play visible, valued roles in strengthening places and people.
Delivery & Commissioning
Grow Your Own is delivered in partnership with community gardens, heritage sites and local organisations and can be commissioned regionally or locally.