Growing Well
Growing Well is an established mental health charity and organic farm near Kendal in South Cumbria with a mission to reach more communities in Cumbria.
Growing Well
Growing Well is an established mental health charity and organic farm near Kendal in South Cumbria with a mission to reach more communities in Cumbria with their successful delivery model which helps hundreds of people in the local community recover from mental ill health through activity, support and training. Growing Well uses therapeutic farming to support long-term sustainable mental health recovery that is an alternative, or sometimes a complement to, talking therapies.
This project sees the development of a third Growing Well site at Beck Green, Egremont to benefit people across West Cumbria.
The Fund awarded a Capital grant to support the site clearance and horticultural equipment, office fit out, and contingency costs, together with a revenue grant over 3 years to support staff costs, all to enable operations to begin at Beck Green.
Project Impacts
Project Impacts
- 500 People - Engagement or support to enable general engagement with local young people through educational outreach.
- 100 people reached - Interventions taken to promote good mental health or that increase access to effective mental health support (expressed a people reached).
- Increased self-esteem and confidence
- Increased social inclusion
- Increased sense of purpose
- Better or balanced emotional resilience
- 2,800 hours - Number of voluntary hours donated to support Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (excludes expert business advice).
- 320 weeks - Number of weeks spent on work placements or pre-employment course for people locally; 1-6 weeks student placements (unpaid).
- 9,600 hours - Voluntary time dedicated to the creation or management of green infrastructure, to increase biodiversity, or to keep green spaces clean.
- Increased agency and empowerment
- Progression towards personal life goals
- Increased vocational and transferrable life skills