Young people with additional needs celebrate World Environment Day with plant potting workshop as part of Belfast charity Autonomie's Freedom2Choose programme

Young people who take part in the charity's weekend social and recreational activities programme Freedom2Choose got a chance to plant plants in pots and decorate their pots on Saturday 1 June 2019. 

The activities programme aims to help young people living with physical disabilities (ages 16- 25) in Belfast and The Greater Belfast area learn and develop new skills, meet new people and have new experiences.

To celebrate World Environment Day and this year's theme Beat Air Pollution, young people took part in a practical green-fingered workshop offering the youngsters a chance to plant plants in pots and display their creativity by colourfully decorating their pots.  

"A charity spokesperson said: "Young people who take part in our Freedom2Choose programme learn and develop a range of life skills helping them become more well-rounded, independent and responsible.

"Helping young people better understand the relationship we have with our environment and how our choices impact the environment is just one of the ways we do this.

"Planting plants offers a real sense of achievement and responsibility and is a great way to help the environment. The young people really enjoyed potting plants and designing their pots and are excited to watch them grow and bloom."

For further information about Autonomie and Freedom2Choose programme, as well as all programmes young people with additional needs can access at the charity's South Belfast centre Lilac House (Linked Independent Living and Advice Centre) visit www.autonomie.org.uk