A working partnership between a charity based in West Cornwall and an award winning food delivery company is bringing huge benefits to young people and adults with learning difficulties through work experience and a commercial channel to sell their produce.

The Kehelland Trust was set up in 1982 to provide a rural, horticulture setting for the support of adults with learning and, or physical disabilities. The Team at Kehelland work with their clients through the growing of plants and vegetables which are then sold through their shop and through The Cornish Food Box Company’s online delivery service and Truro shop.

“Our partnership with Cornish Food Box began last summer, when we were looking for outlets for our produce that were sympathetic to our working practice,” explained Sally Pyner, who is the Horticultural Coordinator at Kehelland Trust based just outside Camborne.

“Lucy from Cornish Food Box came to visit us at Kehelland and was so positive about our work and our produce it was really heartening. We went on to have a really successful season providing vegetables and fruit for their online delivery service.”

Sally added: “Our work at Kehelland is centred on the care we provide for young people and adults with Learning and/ or Physical Disabilities. Whilst we strive to be professional and successful commercially, it cannot be seen to be put above the care. In short, we needed to be able to say what was available, rather than have the pressure of being told what to provide; The Cornish Food Box allowed us to do exactly that.”

The partnership has now extended to include a fully stocked plant sales area outside The Cornish Food Box Company’s central Truro store, as well as a work experience placement in their shop for Richard who studies on Kehelland’s Internship Programme.

“We are extremely proud of our relationship with Kehelland Trust,” said Lucy Jones, who set up The Cornish Food Box Company with her sister Tor in December 2010.

“Kehelland grow top quality fruit and vegetables for us, as well fantastic and unusual varieties of Cornish plants and trees which are all available at our shop in Truro. We are able to support the work of the Trust by working with them as a commercial partner. They grow fantastic produce, we pay a fair price for it and everyone benefits. They are also a great bunch of people to deal with which also helps!!”

Richard, 23, has been on the Internship Programme since October and has just begun work experience at the Cornish Food Box Shop, Café and office.

“The partnership between Kehelland and Cornish Food Box has provided a unique and positive experience for our internship programme. It has been wonderful to see Richard work independently and confidently in the work-place” explained Mark Whenman, who is an Education Support Worker at the Kehelland Trust.

“Richard is helpfulness personified. He addresses a job with his full attention, and is good at adjusting when jobs change; and even offers suggestions, when something needs it. A very friendly, conscientious young man” said Dawn Groves, who runs the Cornish Food Box Company office.