St Ebbas Hospital – wellbeing garden
About the project
We worked in partnership with Surrey County Council to transform a disused pavilion into a therapy garden, as part of the Green Social Prescribing Programme, a national programme supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental and physical health. This can involve what are known as ‘green’, such as our project below, and ‘blue’ activities, like other VIY projects creating a Paddle Club in Leicestershire and projects through our partnership with Sport Birmingham.
The project:
We converted a disused pavilion into a therapy garden, including creating seating, tables planters and a pergola, to be used by patients being treated through St Ebbas Hospital in Epsom, to allow people supported through their mental health services to have treatment or take some time outside in this space – a chance to breathe, feel and reflect in a natural setting. With thanks to materials supplied from Travis Perkins and a splash of Dulux Cuprinol to touch up the woodwork.
The young people: 14 local young people, including from the Amber Foundation and users of the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHs), referred by the Surrey & Border Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who will directly benefit from this space
The impact:
- 10 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations earned by the young people in Carpentry and Health & Safety
- A peaceful space which has now been beautifully planted up the users of the CAMHs service and other community groups
- A standout example of what ‘good’ looks like for green social prescribing projects and partnerships look like at a national level, for other areas to replicate
- Key example to be noted in a toolkit by Natural England to encourage other such projects for disengaged local young people and to support those with poor mental health
See what this project meant to a young lad with OCD and autism
