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Posted by drwalter (U1365507) on Monday, 26th March 2012
If you recall, Monty did a five-episode called "Growing Out Of Trouble" a few years back in which he set up a project to help offenders break the cycle of their crime and drug use by introducing them to looking after land and livestock.
Does anyone have an update on this project?
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
I have seen dodo's with more life
Smoke and mirrors job
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
You've seen a dodo?
Tell us all about it!
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
it was stuffed and had a big beak - it was defiantly dead - and had been so for some considerable time - supposed to taste like chicken
I know a dead pigeon (duck) when I see one
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
This is sounding more amd more like The Ex- Parrot Sketch!
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Nah - dodos tasted fishy cos of their diet.
However, I agree that this was a poorly conceived, half-baked, wooly brained project and suspected there would be no proper follow up or continuity and voilà , the evidence from the charities commission and so on seems to confirm that.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
In fact the project did continue and is continuing, the hosts of the scheme confirmed this to me last week. They help those struggling with substance abuse and kids who have been excluded from school, not I think under the same roof or programme and teach them new skills linked to agriculture/horticulture or the construction trades.
If you would like to know more have a look at this site
Quite a commitment
L
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Logissimo
Good link "Top Barn Trust is a Christian charity" - cannot see any mention of Monty on there or a link to his charity site
Activities "TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
TO RELIEVE THE POOR,THE SICK AND THOSE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP AND DISTRESS, AND SUPPORT THE AGED WHO HAVE ACHARITABLE NEED.
TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND TO PROVIDE PASTORAL CARE.
TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES IN TEH INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION
SIMILARLY SUPPORT FOR ALLEVIATION OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION"
(sorry its in capitals - cut and paste)
If Monty's charity is not operating then they need to pull the Monty website and also cancel the charity status
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Thanks Rowan,
Not sure at all if Monty has anything to do with the current activities. I'm not aware of them using his name in any way.
In any case, I only happen to know a very little about it and have no direct involvement. I only passed on the link in case someone, ie the first poster wanted some involvement him/herself.
Over to you
L
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
, in reply to message 10.
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Thursday, 29th March 2012
to be honest looks a good project and hope it helps some people to get a love of horticulture. It was also good to see that the trustees took no remuneration.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Pretty sure Monty did the programme and then had nothing more to do with the project.
All for the TV.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Quite.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
, in reply to message 13.
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Sunday, 8th April 2012
I may be hopelessly naive, but isn't it a good thing that people have a go at starting things up, whether it's a business, a charity, youth club, dog's home, political party........?
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
It depends. If you're trying to help people or animals who need retraining from anti-social behaviour or self damaging behaviour it's a life time commitment. I was therefore deeply disappointed that Monty's drug addict programme had so little apparent planning, foresight and insight into the kinds of people he would be dealing with, how they'd got into that pattern of behaviour and/or dependancy and no plans for future follow up or funding.
Nice idea but absolutely disastrous to leave such fragile, vulnerable people in the lurch with no further support or follow up.
It is well known that gardening as therapy is great for certain prisoners - look at all those winners designing gardens at Chelsea a few years ago. It's also great for relieving depression, helping people with learning disabilities and calming aggressive behaviour. Just plain scandalous to start people on a road to rehabilitation and then abandon them.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Agree - on a much smaller scale I started a neighbiurhood watch scheme.
The response was overwhelming from neighbours who had just wished someone would do it!
And its not difficult at all - the police do it all for you!
Most of it.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Didn't know they still existed, thought it was just a snoopers charter from the Thatcher era.
Back to the subject - it was a good idea and a pity if it didn't carry on.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Sorry if that sounded rude, wasn';t meant to.........
We have a scheme locally for disaffected youngsters - I don't know much about it but it is horticulturally and practically based. We also have a nursery, serving the council, which employs people with learning difficulties, they really seem to enjoy working with the soil and plants.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
, in reply to message 15.
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Monday, 9th April 2012
It would be nice if everything that was started up with commitment to long-term results actually survived, but sadly they often don't, because of such things as funding, poor long-term planning, changes of management.
I don't know what happened to Monty's scheme, and nothing on this thread really tells me. I can't help feeling that if there was a genuine scandal one or other of the newspapers would have been on to it by now.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
It's Ok Lowena - that's what I thought before I looked into it.
It can be very low key - just a way of helping people communicate with the police if someone has a problem or something is worrying them.
Most people are worried about contacting the police over non -urgent matters, but the police welcome it as long as it's done the right way.
And you get snazzy signs to put on your lampposts which are good - although I became worried about Police resources when they had to borrow our ladders to put them up!
You get practical help with door locks etc as well. Things like that.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
, in reply to message 20.
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Monday, 9th April 2012
'..........although I became worried about Police resources when they had to borrow our ladders to put them up!..........'
Sounds like a good use of resouces to me!
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Love the idea of the police borrowing ladders Sounds like a good thing Nooj, more power to your elbow
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
As long as it goes straight to my poorly elbow that lets me down when I'm digging.
A bit for my knee would be ok as well
No idea what happened to the growing out of trouble scheme - but i know lots of young people who have got into bother go out to help with unskilled work in gardens - hopefully, if they get interested, move on?
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
I have to reply to this one about 'The Good Soil Project' as I seem to remember it being called. I watched the programme and some friends of mine went to see it before it was even televised and told me what a good idea it was.
I then went on to read the book that Monty wrote and it seemed a genuine concern for the drug addicts in his location and the knowledge that getting to grips with growing stuff etc etc is good therapy, he got the scheme up and running. BUT he didn't do it on his own; he was supported by various agencies including the pobation service but the negative attitude of local landowners etc would have put most people off but they/he persevered and succeeded in the end for quite a few years.
Three people from the project, Rocky the leader and two ex addicts came to talk to a group of us about how the project had saved their lives BUT even then Rocky said that the future was uncertain. Financial support was being cut and I think the lease of the land was running out.
Anyway, they had nothing but praise for Monty as it wouldn't have got going at all without him. I do believe that the project has survived but is now in Worcester thanks to a farmer wanting to have them on his land.
So in answer to girlgardener I think it was NOT done all for the TV. I think TV picked up on a good story or Monty used his influence with the Â鶹Éç to get it publicised. You can't blame him for that.
Sue
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
, in reply to message 24.
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Tuesday, 10th April 2012
Thanks, Sue.
Joe
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Very interesting indeed.
Im my previous life in local government it was called seeding or kick statrting a project = once its running and proving beneficial you can look for sponsors or more funding
not much to ask for the savings that can be made from hospital care, burglaries and general crime that addicts commit when desperate.
Obviously it needs a long term approach for the individual, but what is wrong with trying?
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
The charity has entered no income or expenditure for a few years...this would suggest that it is defunct.
I think that it was a good idea for a TV programme and once the cameras stopped rolling, that was more or less that.
Probably commissioned and decided that Monty with his depression past and saviour through gardening would be a good front man - can't blame him or them for that. It's all about what makes good TV and ratings...the people in the programme were useful at the time.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
Sorry girlgardener, but I don't think you read my post properley. It had nothing to do with TV at the beginning and the project is still running but now in another place.
I think the project runs without that particular charity and as I said it carried on long after the TV programme was shown.
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
As Sue says, the project is still going and I passed on a link to those interested in message No 8.
There seems to be a bit of a debate about whether the project was MD's baby or not. I've no idea but knowing very little about TV programme production I suspect that there are lots of people involved and the presenter tends to be the one who takes the credit even though he is there to lend charm, a "pretty face" and presentation skills. The real ones behind the project were probably happy to see the project succeed, satisaction derived from helping someone in need, while taking little credit for themselves, like the current benefactors who provide the site and backup to the project and demanding no reward.
Good luck to them!
L
Link to this forum: Monty and the "Drugs/Crime Gardening Project"
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