Get Up & Grow works with young people from different backgrounds who do not tend to engage well in school or have been in trouble with the law. They learn gardening skills and all about the environment. The group encourages recycling, and has their own wormery, compost heap and water butts. In addition, the team take their skills out into the community where they help regenerate rundown areas with the help of local youth clubs and church groups.

The project gives the young people who attend a sense of purpose and belonging and while enlightening them about environmentally friendly practises it also gives them skills that can take them on through their lives. They also have some small animals, allowing the young people to get a sense of animal care. As well as this, healthy living and eating is endorsed and members are encouraged to take home some of the fruit and vegetables they have grown and are often involved in cooking and jam making demonstrations.

Dawn Purkiss, founder of Get Up & Grow explains:
"We are delighted Get Up & Grow has been awarded a Kerrygold Community Award. Winning the award will make a great difference to us and to so many young people who learn to work together to hone their skills in a positive way.”

With the help of the Kerrygold Community Awards cash prize, the group would like to invest in some new equipment and replenish their old equipment in order to continue their great work.

Dawn goes on to explain: “It never ceases to amaze me what young people achieve from looking after a garden throughout the year, and from working within their community; it gives them a sense of ownership and pride for where they live.”