Describe the setting where you run your STH programmes?
We run our programmes in community settings such as Cannington Community Orchard, Watchet Community Veg Plot and Glastonbury Red Brick Building Community Garden, all in Somerset.
How many clients do you have and how many days a week do you operate?
We have around 30 participants and operate five days a week
What changes have you noticed in the clients as a result of your work?
People are less depressed and anxious, more socially confident, people change their lives in a variety of ways.
What’s the most challenging part of running Seed of Hope?
Paying people that we want to work with.
What is the attitude of local health professionals to your service?
They love us.
Seed of Hope's site at the Red Brick Building Community Garden in Glastonbury.
What would be the one thing that would make a big difference to you?
Seed of Hope Central - the idea here is to have an area of woodland with growing areas. One of the good things about Seed of Hope groups is that they are where people are. Somerset is a large rural county with poor public transport and roads. So we aim to deliver our groups as near to people in community facilities.
However this doesn’t suit everyone with a mental health problem all the time. So we are creating a central place where people can come if they can’t manage our groups at that point in time. Perhaps people will be in a place in life were they need to be in nature with supportive people and without the pressure of modern life.
It will also provide us with an administrative and training base, as well as educational facilities.
What would be your one tip/piece of advice to anyone running a STH programme or thinking of setting one up?
Just do it.