Sutton Garden Enterprises LTD

Sutton Garden Enterprises (S.G.E.) is a social firm registered in 2006 as a limited company and the trading arm of Volunteer Centre Sutton.

The company was set up to provide volunteering opportunities for people with additional support needs by enabling the Centre to attract independent and sustainable funding to support work with volunteers with a range of disabilities.

Staff and volunteers undertake work for a variety of organisations and individuals who do not meet the stringent criteria of the Tenants Gardening Maintenance Scheme

The company employs a manager and recruits and supports volunteers to carry out a variety of gardening work in return for payment. Any surpluses from payments received are invested back into the company to provide equipment, training, support and supervision for the volunteers.

Tenants Gardening Maintenance Scheme (TGMS).

TGMS provides free garden maintenance service for older or vulnerable Council tenants in the London Borough of Sutton. Due to the number of applicants each year, the Scheme operates to a strict eligibility criteria. The Scheme is supervised by Centre staff, managing volunteers with additional support needs.

TGMS provides garden maintenance for 300 vulnerable tenants during April to September. This involves cutting front and back lawns and hedges. Each resident receives five visits during this period.

During the winter larger jobs are undertaken in preparation for the new season and those tenants on the waiting list are visited twice during the winter months to clear their garden to a satisfactory level until transferred to the main list.

Tools and equipment are serviced and repaired during the winter months and training is provided to support the volunteers and members of staff.

The TGMS service is operated from the Volunteer Centre Sutton, where application forms outlining the criteria can be obtained.

Training is provided to support the volunteers and members of staff