Dan joined Roots when he was eighteen, and since then he has been a volunteer for three years.
Dan had experienced eating disorders when he was a teenager, which led him to suffer depression and anxiety. Dan’s mum, Lisa, found out about Help & Care’s Roots programme and decided to encourage her son to take up gardening.
“I used to spend a lot of time on my own and I started feeling really isolated. I didn’t want to leave the house, I slept constantly, and felt like I had nothing to get up for. When I heard about Roots I didn’t give it much thought, I just thought I would go to one session and see what happened. Now I am part of the team and I feel like I have something to get up for in the morning."
Dan enjoys the company of the other volunteers and over the years he’s made some really good friends.
“I love spending time outdoors and I have discovered a passion for gardening. I think my voluntary work is really rewarding as well, because we’re helping older and vulnerable people who aren’t able to take care of their gardens anymore. When you see the person come out and look at their garden after we have finished, you can see the joy on their face.”
Note: Names, as well as other identifying details, are changed to maintain confidentiality and privacy. Photograph is a stock image.
