History of Roots and Shoots
Roots and Shoots was established in 1982 by the Lady Margaret Hall Settlement, a long established Lambeth charity. Funding had been secured through the Youth Opportunities Programme (central government funding and Lambeth social services).
Meetings had been held in the late 70's due to the concern of the statutory, education and voluntary sectors regarding their worries for young people leaving special schools with little hope of employment. It was felt that there should be vocational and further educational training available to this client group.
Lady Margaret Hall Settlement, which had a long history as an enabling charity working on employment projects in North Lambeth, took the initiative and secured a suitable site in Walnut Tree Walk SE11. The site was semi-derelict and had been used by the Civil Defence in World War II.
In November 1981 a manager was appointed to develop the project and recruit staff. A supportive steering committee composed of health and educational professionals supported Roots and Shoots during its first few years. Funding had been secured for 3 years and it was not known as to whether further government funding would be forthcoming. (In 1997 we became an independent charity and company limited by guarantee with our own board of trustees/ directors.)
Once staff had been appointed and inducted the first four trainees started on the 8th March 1982 (there are currently 20).The trainees were young people with learning disabilities who had been referred by social services or the careers service and were between 16-25 years old.
The Walnut Tree was planted in September 1982 by Councillor Greenwood, a local councillor and Michael Landell one of the first trainees to attend Roots and Shoots.
Another site was also developed at the rear of 'Normancroft' a residential nursing home in Streatham. This large area with a heated greenhouse and garden provided the trainees the opportunity to develop a vegetable and fruit garden. The soil at the Walnut Tree Walk site was unsuitable due to the high lead and cadmium content of the soil.
