ROOTS a gardening service provided by local people recovering from mental distress has launched as a social enterprise and is set to expand thanks to a grant from Ecominds.
The launch of Roots as a social enterprise was celebrated at an event on 11 October to coincide with World Mental Health Day (10 October 2010).
Help and Care set up Roots more than 20 years ago. The gardening service provides an opportunity for people recovering from mental distress to volunteer to work as part of a team with a Garden Services Supervisor so that they can build on their confidence and learn new skills.
Roots Volunteer Trainees work a structured day providing garden services such as; lawn mowing, strimming, planting bulbs, trimming hedges and pruning trees and shrubs in the gardens of older people in Bournemouth and Poole who need help maintaining their garden.
The new funding means that Roots will now be able to develop a range of opportunities for Volunteer Trainees so they can build on skills and experience during their Roots placement. It will also help Roots to increase the range of gardening support available to Older People.
Roots also has the continued support of the Commissioners Bournemouth and Poole NHS and Bournemouth Borough Council in this funding year.
Lisa Andrews from Help and Care said: "We are thrilled to have received the grant from Ecominds and delighted to have the continued support of our Commissioners in this funding year.
Lisa added: "We are all experiencing a very difficult financial climate and we recognized that Roots needed to change so that it could continue to flourish. Launching as a social enterprise and the new grant means that we now have a real opportunity to develop Roots so that a greater number of people in our community can reap the benefits. Our Vision is simple 'For every 1000 gardens we tend a 1000 people we grow'."
Barry Watts, Grants Manager of Ecominds said 'What we liked about this project was that we could see how it would directly benefit those people recovering from mental distress, teaching skills and providing a vital support network. It will be great to follow this project's progress, hearing how the participants have helped maintain and also transform the gardens of older people within the local community.'
To find out more about Roots gardening service please call 0300 111 3303