MindFood launches new wellbeing course
A social enterprise aiming to help people recover from mental health problems through growing and selling food is opening a new sensory market garden in Ealing.
MindFood was set up by local Acton resident Ciaran Biggins after seeing a need to provide an alternative intervention for people experiencing mental ill health. Initially based in Amersham they've now moved closer to the community of people they support in Ealing and surrounding boroughs.
Ciaran says they are launching a new ‘Growing Wellbeing’ 6 week course in April from their new site near Hanger Lane tube station. It will focus on the 5 ways to wellbeing in a food growing environment.
The 5 ways to wellbeing are a set of evidence-based actions which promote people’s wellbeing; Connect, Learn, Be Active, Take Notice and Give.
The course is designed to be a fun balance of learning how to grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables whilst becoming more mindful of the 5 ways to improve our wellbeing.
It's aimed at a much broader audience than their traditional programmes and is for people who might be experiencing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
MindFood has shown impressive results in its first two years with 92% of people who have been through one of their programmes feeling happier and calmer, 89% of people feeling less socially isolated, and 71% of people feeling more optimistic about the future.
MindFood’s research is backed up by national research carried about by the mental health charity Mind who found that 7 out of 10 people experienced significant increases in mental wellbeing by the time they left an ecotherapy project.
One person who can testify to the difference MindFood had on improving his wellbeing is David.
‘Mindfood became a big part of my life and it gave me something to look forward to. I've had mental health issues of my own and I felt so supported by my friends at MindFood and my self-confidence rose. Then only a couple of weeks ago I was told by my therapist about a farm apprenticeship available in Watford and because of the skills I had learnt at Mindfood, I decided to apply. A couple of days later I had an interview and a few days after I got the job I’m so grateful for everything MindFood has done for me and I would recommend it to anyone.’
Ciaran said “It’s great to see people go through a course with us that enables them to learn and develop their own skills. They get to see the fruits of their labour and we’ve found that complete process is really rewarding for people that come to MindFood.’
Following the success of their first two years, Ciaran is trying to encourage local public services to look at gardening as a viable form of treatment for people with mental health issues and something he would eventually hope to see prescribed on the NHS.
MindFood’s produce is sold throughout the local area, at Acton market in the summer and through Edible Ealing veg box scheme. Ciaran is keen to supply more restaurants in the local area who ‘buy into locally produced food, but also food that has a story behind it of supporting vulnerable people in the local area.’
For more information on hwo to sign up to the ‘Growing Wellbeing’ course MindFood run or enquire about the produce they sell visit here
30th March 2015