ASCEND Dig Deep
ASCEND is a charity based within South Oxhey in Hertfordshire whose aims are to: 
- Provide education and training opportunities to address the Governments "Skills for Life" agenda.
- Develop client Information Technology skills, enabling them with new proficiencies, improved confidence, self-esteem and increased employability.
- Move people forward by challenging perceived barriers to education and training; providing people with more choice and control over their lives.
- Develop new services and training opportunities to reflect the changing needs of their clients.
- Develop new services and training opportunities for young people aged 16 to 25.
After seeing the transformation of Farming For All's first derelict allotment, ASCEND and Farming For All developed a new partnership project "Dig Deep". A plan that involved revitalising a large allotment to be used for the benefit of the local community. A plan was drawn up and start up funding acquired to kick start this 3 year project.
Farming For All are providing a number of services to the project providing a mix of consulting, corporate volunteer support and client training. The size and state of the allotment plot meant a lot of hands and hard work was going to be needed and through some fantastic corporate volunteers enough of the site was cleared to enable courses to start.
One such activity was a "Gardening for Beginners" course, run on the allotment, covering Credit Crunch Cultivation, seed and plug planting, recycling, soil testing, planting hanging baskets, conservation and the natural use of plants for dying fabric and making fertilisers and nettle rope.
A regular set of events then followed with great success. How one member of the community benefited is described in the ASCEND newsletter.
Gallery showing from the clearance to the opening of the site
