Celebrating Tourism For Good: Airfield Estate Launch Inspiring GROW Programme
At the Sustainable Tourism Network, we are proud to shine a spotlight on the inspiring sustainability actions of our tourism business members – businesses and organisations that are actively committing to people, planet and tourism for good, while continually striving to do better.
One such member is Airfield Estate. Their recently launched GROW Programme offers a powerful example of how tourism, hospitality and food experiences can deliver meaningful social impact alongside environmental stewardship. It is a practical, work-based initiative where young adults with intellectual disabilities build real skills across our farm, gardens and restaurant and move towards employment – demonstrating how tourism spaces can be inclusive, purposeful and rooted in community benefit.
Growing Opportunity, Respect And Wellbeing
Airfield Estate’s GROW Programme – which stands for Growth, Respect, Opportunity and Wellbeing – is a supported employability programme designed for young adults in disability services. The programme provides participants with hands-on, real-world work experience across hospitality, tourism, horticulture and farming, all within the unique setting of Airfield Estate’s urban farm and visitor attraction in Dublin.
The aim is not just skills development, but confidence-building, personal growth and progression towards meaningful, viable employment.
A Life-Changing Impact
The impact of the GROW Programme was recently highlighted by The Irish Times, which explored the lived experiences of participants and the wider social context in which the programme operates.
Participants on the programme gain exposure to day-to-day work in hospitality, tourism and horticulture – from caring for plants and animals to contributing to the on-site café and visitor experience at Airfield Estate.
People, Planet And Purpose
What makes Airfield Estate’s approach particularly inspiring from a sustainable tourism perspective is the way social inclusion is embedded within a wider commitment to environmental and food sustainability.
As a visitor attraction and tourism experience, Airfield Estate integrates organic farming, local food systems, biodiversity and education – connecting visitors directly with where food comes from and how land can be cared for responsibly. Through the GROW Programme, these same spaces become places of opportunity and empowerment, ensuring that sustainability efforts benefit people as well as the planet.
This holistic approach aligns strongly with the Sustainable Tourism Network’s values: that tourism can – and should – be a force for good, delivering positive outcomes for communities, environments and visitors alike.
Committing To Continuous Improvement
At STN, we believe sustainability is not a fixed destination, but an ongoing journey. We are committed to promoting and celebrating members like Airfield Estate who are continually improving, reflecting on their impact, and finding new ways to strengthen their contribution to society and the environment.
