Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled a list of FAQ below but if you have another question that isn’t here please email Heather.
What work does HighGround carry out?
The Charity works in two ways:-
- with injured serving personnel at DMRC Stanford Hall by providing the Horticultural Therapy service
- providing advice and support for service leavers and veterans about jobs, careers and vocational opportunities in the land-based sector through rural weeks. Find out more about the land-based experience and support offered by HighGround here.
Outdoor stuff for outdoor people…!
Where does the Horticultural Therapy take place?
At DMRC Stanford Hall near Loughborough.
The idea of creating a 21st century version of the Defence rehab centre, Headley Court in Surrey, in a new location to serve the future needs of serving members of the Armed Forces came from the 6th Duke of Westminster. You can read about his fantastic vision here.
The new Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre was gifted to the Nation by His Grace the Duke of Westminster in June, 2018. Headley Court has now closed.
Who provides Horticultural Therapy at Stanford Hall, and what are some examples of what they do with patients?
A Horticultural Therapist and Therapeutic Gardens Manager are employed by HighGround to provide the Horticultural Therapy sessions at Stanford Hall. They cover numerous areas of horticultural tasks in a safe, controlled, and therapeutic environment. They help to improve a sense of wellbeing, offering a sense of purpose, hope and achievement to the patients who are referred to Horticultural Therapy by their Occupational Therapists as part of the world-class rehabilitation interventions at DMRC Stanford Hall.
Find out more about the amazing work they do here.
What do the costs of Horticultural Therapy sessions cover?
HighGround’s 2 full time staff at DMRC, a Horticultural Therapist and a Gardens Supervisor, as well as all professional training and insurance. We are very grateful to our fantastically generous supporters for donating seeds, planting materials, watering systems and much more besides. We receive no statutory funding for providing the Horticultural Therapy service.
Is there any proof that Horticultural Therapy works?
We are constantly working to gather statistical and anecdotal evidence of the benefits to patients of HT as a rehab intervention. You can find out more here.
Does HighGround work in any countries other than the UK?
Not at the moment..!
How many servicemen and women have gone through the Horticultural Therapy programme?
We deliver 25 half hour sessions (both group and one-to-one) of Horticultural Therapy to DMRC’s patients for 50 weeks of the year, averaging 15 patients per month. Some of these may be long term patients, others for a few weeks.
What is a ‘Rural Week’?
5 fully residential days at an agricultural college for 8 service leavers and veterans to get an overview and some hands-on experience of the land-based sector, where employment and self-employment opportunities for those with military skills and experience lie and how to access them. Find out more here.
What is a ‘Virtual Rural Week’?
Virtual Rural Weeks (VRW) take place online over the course of 3 days for up to 20 service leavers and veterans.
From an attendee’s perspective this is an opportunity to start developing an understanding of land-based sector employment and self-employment opportunities. To understand career paths in particular sectors, and entry level requirements such as tickets required for chainsaw or telehandler operation, for example. And of course, the opportunity to start networking.
Attendance of a VRW does not preclude attendance of a Rural Week at a later date, and previous VRW attendees have already signed up for a Rural Week.
Find out more here.
Where do Rural Weeks take place?
At Bicton College in Devon, a 10-minute drive from the beautiful Budleigh Salterton Beach, and surrounded by the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We are currently piloting Rural Weeks at Askham Bryan College near York.
What is Bicton College?
Bicton College is a specialist land-based college, offering courses in Agriculture, Animal Management, Horticulture, Equine, and Military and Protective Services to name a few!
How many servicemen and women have attended Rural Weeks?
Since the pilot Rural Weeks at Plumpton College in 2014 to the current date, we have delivered 44 Rural Weeks to over 400 serving personnel and veterans.
How do I go about offering employment to ex-service personnel?
Contact Heather in the first instance and she will work with you to find out how best to help you fill your opportunity and how to help a service leaver or veteran to access it.
How many people have found work in the land-based sector as a result of HighGround?
HighGround is not a recruitment agency and as more than 60% of the individuals who access our Virtual Rural Weeks and Rural Weeks are still serving, this is not an easy or accurate metric against which to judge our performance.
However, now Team HighGround has been strengthened by the addition of our Operations Manager, Heather our follow-up service is improving, and our closed LinkedIn group where we post work experience and employment opportunities which are offered to us by land-based employers is proving very successful as a way of sharing new opportunities with those we seek to help.
What is meant by ‘the land-based sector’ i.e. what occupations does it cover?
The occupations covering farming and industries connected to the land and the environment. More traditionally farming and food production, forestry and conservation, game-keeping, aquaculture, landscaping and horticulture. New and expanding areas of the sector include viticulture, hydroponics, Agri-tech, with a growing area of teaching in colleges or universities or other non-traditional education establishments.
You can find out more about land-based careers by taking a look at our Career Guides.
What can I do to help?
It costs us £120 to deliver a 30 minute session of Horticultural Therapy and £2,116 per head to deliver a Rural Week. (Our Virtual Rural Weeks for up to 20 service leavers and veterans is delivered quarterly at a cost of £12,000 per annum) and we rely entirely on grant-making trusts and foundations and public donation to deliver and develop our services. Find out how you can help us here.
Can I set up a monthly direct debit?
Yes please, that would be brilliant! You can do this by setting up a monthly donation though our Localgiving page or contact Anna for HighGround’s bank details and a Gift Aid form.
How would I know how my money is being used?
Contact Anna directly and she will send you a lovely powerpoint slide with all the stats about the % of HighGround’s income spend on service delivery etc.
How can I keep up-to-date with HighGround’s news?
There are various ways you can keep up-to-date with everything that’s going on in HighGround.
- Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter here.
- Keep up to date with latest news here.
- Follow us on Facebook.
- Follow us on Twitter.
- Follow us on Instagram.
- Follow us on LinkedIn.
Who can access HighGround’s services?
HighGround’s land-based employment services (Rural Weeks/Virtual Rural Weeks etc) can only be accessed by service leavers, veterans and reservists.