Abberton Rural Training provide award winning training in rural skills including horticulture, countryside & environment, woodlands, land management, construction, animal care and rural crafts. We work with lots of partners providing education and training across Essex and surrounding areas, working with many vulnerable groups. These include Wounded and Injured Service Personnel and Veterans in partnership with the Personnel Recovery Centre for Colchester Garrison, and take referrals directly and through veteran organisations. We work with Essex Adult Community Learning and the Department of Work and Pensions to work with a variety of vulnerable groups and individuals to help them improve their lives and opportunities. We have groups for young people aged 17-24, for adults 25 up (our eldest last year was 78), for those suffering from a variety of issues including the results of mental health issues including linked to domestic abuse, drug and alcohol issues, PTSD, learning difficulties etc. We have groups in partnership with many other organisations including Futures in Mind and Active Essex and work with schools to cover horticulture activities providing all the education resources needed with or without a tutor requirement. We run a number of community gardens and have several locations spread across Essex covering all aspects of Land Based Studies. We are constantly looking at more ways to help people and have launched online and distance learning, and our Stay At Home, Grow Your Own scheme which reached over 1250 households in 2020 alone, and are teaching more vulnerable and isolated people than ever before. All our participants gain access to our qualified counselling staff and our advocacy assistance. We have helped a number of individuals who were suicidal to stay alive and grow their resources to help them cope as they move forward. Our training is very individual to the learner and we pride ourselves in making sure people can succeed.