A mental health charity has marked its 20th anniversary by opening a new centre in West Cumbria, working alongside and supporting the county’s nuclear community.

The Growing Well charity officially opened its new site in Egremont last month alongside its key funders from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Copeland Community Fund, and Cumberland Council.

The 1.6-acre ex-council nursery site in Egremont’s town centre will support people from Millom to Maryport with its therapeutic model that champions recovery through structured horticultural activity.

Mary Smith, CEO of Growing Well, said they’d been looking at opening in the West Cumbria area for about five years because of its health inequality, poverty and high suicide rates. “The services over here were overwhelmed post-Covid,” she says.

(Image: Growing Well)

The site has the capacity for 100 clients a week and most clients join the scheme within two weeks of referral. They accept referrals for people with moderate to severe mental health problems, those who have been out of work for long periods or battling various diagnoses; also people rehabilitating after leaving prison.

“In this area you can see the suicide statistics, we try to help people who are at a high risk of escalation,” says Mary. 

The service is led by clinical psychologists and is delivered by specialist staff.

In West Cumbria they will also be working with the nuclear industry and occupational health to support people back into the workplace.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority donated £195,000 to Growing Well; Copeland Community Fund £275,000, National Lottery Community Fund £200,000 and the National Lottery Heritage Fund £125,000. 

About quarter of a million pounds was used on opening the site and the remaining money will help support the charity for the next three years. They will also sell veg boxes to help fund the ongoing costs of the project. Mary hopes some of the 100 boxes they sell next year will be sponsored by local businesses so they can go to low-income homes.

“It’s vital that services like ours are here to respond to the escalating mental health crisis in our population and support people to find help at the point they need it. Our funders recognise the urgency of this and can also see the additional benefits of a model such as ours to the wider community. We are very thankful for their support,” she said.

(Image: Growing Well)

Growing Well started in Kendal 20 years ago and has helped thousands recover from mental ill health. The charity opened its second site at Tebay Services last year to serve the Carlisle and Eden areas.

Last month David Peattie, CEO at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, officially opened the Egremont site. He said: “This truly is a fantastic asset to the local Cumbrian community and as someone who places huge value on mental health, I am delighted that the NDA has been able to be part of supporting such an important service.

“It’s a great example of how the NDA is delivering its decommissioning mission with care for the communities and the environment, investing money and resources in projects like this one which will benefit future generations.

“I love nature, it’s one of the reasons I live in West Cumbria. I get a lot of solace and support emotionally from being with nature in all its forms, and I can’t think of anything more direct than putting your fingers into the earth and seeing things grow. It’s such a rewarding experience and what Growing Well is doing is absolutely fantastic and I wish them all the very best for many years to come.”

Emma Moynihan, fund manager for the Copeland Community Fund, said: “The grant of £275,000 is to establish the site in Egremont and to deliver the programme over the next three years. The team and I had the privilege of attending a pre-opening volunteer day. It was fantastic to see the project's progress and have the opportunity to experience first hand how this project will be supporting beneficiaries.”

The charity is now at a point of consolidation, with two openings in two years and lots of new additions to its 30-strong staff.

“We know this county and we know its needs,” says Mary.

She is concerned how the words ‘mental health’ are overused today. “Anyone can buy a field and call it a mental health activity. Here we offer a safe and professional environment to support mental health recovery in a unique, non-clinical setting monitored by clinical psychologists.”