One of Cumbria’s most innovative charities is showcasing its work at Cartmel Racecourse this summer – and it’s a partnership which is sowing the seeds for better mental health.
It’s nearly 20 years since Growing Well first put down roots at Low Sizergh Farm near Kendal.
Now the charity helps up to 200 people a year with their mental health and, thanks to its latest enterprise in the north of the county at Tebay Services, that number will continue to blossom.
Beneficiaries are offered a weekly day-long session for up to a year, giving them the chance to set goals, rebuild their confidence with the support of professional staff and learn new skills – with the added benefit of being in the great outdoors in this bustling, horticultural enterprise.
Fruit and vegetables grown by Growing Well beneficiaries are sold at Low Sizergh Barn and Tebay Services, as well as in Crop Share veg boxes picked up by 100 customers every week.
Growing Well’s work to promote the benefits of its horticulture enterprise doesn’t stop there. That’s why the team will be on site at Cartmel Racecourse this season, talking to visitors about their work, and raising vital funds.
Growing Well is one of the racecourse’s chosen charities for the year and they’ll be hosting a stand at the race meeting on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.
Rebecca Batstone, the charity’s partnerships manager, says it’s an important date in their diary.
“We’ve been supporting people in South Lakes, Furness and North Lancashire for almost two decades and have great referral partners in the NHS and local communities in this area.
“We want to spread the word still further about what we can offer, and that’s where this charity day at Cartmel Racecourse comes in. There will be a wealth of visitors from all over the country and we can share information about improving mental health with all of them.
“It will be a fun event with lots of interaction planned but there’s a serious message too, about destigmatising mental health.
“The Racecourse is excellent at working with local businesses and we are so pleased to be a part of that.”
Geraldine McKay, director of racing at Cartmel Racecourse, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support Growing Well this season. Their work is amazing and fits so well with what we are all about – community, wellbeing, and local support.
“We have to talk more about mental health and if we can encourage not only those who may be suffering themselves, but also the indirect beneficiaries, like family or friends or co-workers of people who may be struggling to access services like Growing Well, then it will be a very special and important thing.”
