A GRANT of £2,500 enabled Faithworks Wessex to recruit ‘Green Teams’ made up of people in temporary accommodation to undertake garden maintenance.

They were given training and work locally for churches and vulnerable homeowners to boost their skills, confidence and qualifications aspart of their journey to escape homelessness

Fundraiser Sartah-Jane Brocklehurst said: “The positive changes the secondary benefits including vulnerable people feeling safer with their gardens cleaned up and any potential anti-social behaviour areas taken away, safer and better public spaces, and a better understanding of homelessness issues in community.

“Our overall outcome is that individuals escaping homelessness, maintain their accommodation, grow their self-confidence, and build experience that can help them with future employment.”

Working in the open is proven to be beneficial to mental health and in addition having a usable garden that they can enjoy also brings a mental health benefit to isolated and lonely homneowners.

The Green Team project is just one aspect of Faithworks Wessex’s work. It also works with lone parent families, provides invaluable help with debt and budgeting, addictions and helps connect communities. Learn more about it here.

Mental Health Awareness Week , which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, is in its 21st year.

This year, the theme for the week is ‘Nature’. Across the country, people will be celebrating the mental health benefits of being around nature in their local community in a range of digital and creative ways.

Share images/videos/or just sound recordings of the nature on your doorstep (and how this made you feel) on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.”

Find more details about the week here.