FRESH home-grown vegetables will soon be on the menu for youngsters at a Halton charity group, thanks to the support of Halton Housing Trust.

The Trust, together with one of its contractors, have helped HITS, a charity working with children and young people, to improve its garden and create a new allotment area at its centre at Grangeway, Runcorn.

HITS, which provides a range of services for vulnerable children and their families, is now encouraging youngsters to grow their own vegetables – which can be taken home or used at the Grangeway Community Cafe next door.

Halton Housing Trust teamed up with one of its contractors – landscape maintenance firm Vale Contract Services – to carry out the work, after hearing of the charity’s plans to upgrade its garden area to promote sustainable living.

David Atkinson, Chief Executive of HITS, said: “We’d like to offer our thanks to Halton Housing Trust and Vale Contract Services for their support.

“We have 30 to 40 young people passing through our building each week, so they will now be able to enjoy the garden area, and hopefully get involved in growing and eating the vegetables.

“Ideally we’d like to sell what we grow at our café next door. To think that we are pulling the food out of the ground and then selling it at our café just 35 yards away is amazing. That’s about as fresh as food can get.”

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, added: “As soon as we heard that HITS were looking to carry out this work, as one of our two nominated charities we wanted to get involved. It was great that our contractor Vale Contract Services kindly offered their time to help by applying their skills and knowledge in improving the garden area.

“Their help was invaluable and now the HITS facility not only has a wonderfully attractive garden, but also a fantastic allotment area that will provide a rewarding project for the youngsters, and help encourage sustainable living.”

Andrew Spink, Managing Director for Vale Contract Services continued: “I’m delighted that our team has worked closely with staff from Halton Housing Trust to support such a worthwhile project for young children.

“As part of work with Halton Housing Trust, we promised to get involved in local community initiatives, so we are committed to supporting this and other projects in Halton.”

For more information on HITS go to www.hits-halton.org.uk.