People living with poor mental health are growing in confidence thanks to an outdoor therapy programme where they harvest their own fruit and vegetables and learn about healthy eating and nutrition.
The programme, called Land to Plate, is run by Next Steps Mental Health Resource Centre, in Ryedale, in partnership with Ryedale Carers Support and Carers Plus Yorkshire and has been supported by NHS Community Mental Health Transformation Funding.
Land to Plate provides a safe space for people to come together to socialise and learn and is an excellent example of how alternative schemes and support can help improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.
As we prepare to mark World Mental Health Day on Tuesday (October 10), Service Manager for the Next Steps Mental Health Resource Centre, Leisa Burniston, said: "The health, wellbeing and social benefits of gardening, horticulture and growing your own food are well documented. It can improve our mood, build our confidence, support weight loss and physical health, as well as improving our emotional wellbeing."
The funding was distributed by our Stronger Communities Team on behalf of the North Yorkshire Community Mental Health Transformation programme. It has allowed the centre to deliver a series of 12-week programmes during 2023 to support local people to build their skills and confidence and to live well in their local community.
Our Stronger Communities delivery manager, Paddy Chandler, said: "This is one of many programmes and groups that have benefited from funding from the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme to help improve the lives and mental wellbeing of people in their local areas.
It is great to see investment from the programme lead to innovative projects such as Land to Plate.
"It’s been wonderful to hear such positive feedback from the people who use the scheme and the positive impact it has had on their mental and physical health."
Barbara has made new friends and rediscovered her love of the outdoors and gardening through the scheme.
She said: "I used to have a fruit and vegetable garden at home. Being inside during lockdown, combined with being ill, made me realise how much I missed being outside and growing things. I also didn’t know many people.
"Land to Plate has been good for my self-esteem and given me back a sense of normality.
David Kerr, Programme Lead for the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust said: "It’s important to support people to live well in their local communities and the Community Mental Health Transformation programme recognises this.
"The programme is about partners from both the public sector and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector working together with people with lived experience of mental health conditions, to address the needs of local people.
"Together we’re looking at alternative ways of supporting people’s emotional and mental wellbeing before it has chance to deteriorate or reach crisis point. Local community groups such as the Land to Plate scheme give people the tools they need live well and can act as a form of early intervention to support people to build their skills, resilience and confidence. This can reduce the need for people to be referred into secondary mental health services."
Robert, another project member, is partially sighted and said the group helped to build his confidence.
"Being partially sighted as a young man is very difficult and depressing," he said. "I can feel very isolated and lonely. Land to Plate has given me confidence, a sense of purpose, friendships and knowledge. It’s been lifesaving."
The Land to Plate programme has also inspired Tim to apply to Askham Bryan College, near York, to pursue a career in agriculture.
"I feel accepted, a part of the community and listened to," he said. "I’m excited about creating produce and I’ve lost weight and feel better. Most of all it’s given me confidence to apply for a further education course."
The Community Mental Health Transformation programme in North Yorkshire is run by the North Yorkshire Mental Health Alliance, a partnership of public, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and people with experience of mental illness. It is part of the NHS long-term plan to improve mental health services, give adults greater choice and control over their care and to live well in their local communities.