The Hope Garden in the grounds of the Newham Centre for Mental Health, has been one of the recipients of monies from the ELFT Charity. The charity supports initiatives that improve networking and/or supports the development of skills for employment, both of which the Hope Garden project fully embraces. As Project Lead Andrew Casey explains, it has been a joy to not only watch the plants grow but how people can grow too.

What is it about the Hope Garden that helps people to connect?
You can have some great conversations when you are occupied with a task. It's less intense than staring across a table at each other. Working in the garden can awaken memories of previous homes, gardens or people in your life. It's a relaxed outdoor environment. We stop for breaks and a cuppa. It's lovely to see service users relax and breathe.

What do people learn in the Hope Garden?
We teach basic gardening principles from seed to harvest. We demystify it and show that if you create the right setting, most plants will thrive - be that on a window sill, a shelf, a balcony or in a garden. People have to listen, take instructions, plan the order of tasks and offer their ideas about the garden layout and produce so it stimulates their thinking. As well as gardening skills, it is a chance for people to try their hand at carpentry and learn how to use hand and power tools. (I used to be a carpenter!) One of our service users has embarked on a carpentry course as a result of the time he has spent in the Hope Garden. I am so proud!

How have the monies from the ELFT Charity helped this work?
It has provided the materials to enable us to run a weekly three-hour gardening group for beginners and gardeners of all levels to come together to share or learn new skills. We have a Saturday drop-in - a social space for service users which helps to bridge a gap between services over the weekend. This includes a hot meal and activities such as gardening, quizzes and movies. The Hope Garden has created a space that allows us to support people in a gentle way to get back on their feet.

Donate to the ELFT Charity
Dr Mohit Venkataram is the executive lead for the Charity. He said, "It is heartening to see how money from the ELFT Charity can really benefit local residents.”

Go to the ELFT Charity webpage to find out how you can donate and to find out about other projects:
https://www.elft.nhs.uk/get-involved/elft-charity