October 12, 2016 8.57 am This story is over 89 months old

Lincoln mental health projects among those to share £300k funding boost

Over £300,000 of community funding has been earmarked for groups and organisations in Lincolnshire that help people with mental health problems. In this wave of funding, there are 46 projects benefitting. Each belongs to the county’s Managed Care Network, a collection of community groups which offer support to help people recovering from mental ill health. Funding…
Photo: LPFT

Over £300,000 of community funding has been earmarked for groups and organisations in Lincolnshire that help people with mental health problems.

In this wave of funding, there are 46 projects benefitting. Each belongs to the county’s Managed Care Network, a collection of community groups which offer support to help people recovering from mental ill health.

Funding comes directly from the Mental Health Promotion Fund, which was established by Lincolnshire County Council and is managed by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT).

In total, 2,784 people are expected to directly benefit from the range of activities provided by the Managed Care Network.

Beneficiaries include everything from local social and friendship groups, sports coaching and physical activities through to creative therapy and support for carers.

Photo: Design HHW

Photo: Design HHW

One of the projects reviving a portion of the funding is Hill Holt Wood’s ‘New Leaf’ woodland stewardship and heritage craft project, based near Lincoln.

With a piece of funding worth £8,000, the weekly groups offer participants a chance to use traditional tools and techniques to craft items out of natural products foraged from the forest.

Hill Holt health coordinator Kate Mitchell said:“The project is aimed at anyone who needs time to re-centre or refocus their lives, or they may want to take the opportunity to socialise with others and get outside.

“We feel that this project is particularly beneficial to people experiencing social isolation, for carers while their cared ones are being looked after elsewhere, or for people out of work, or suffering from anxiety, stress or depression.”

Another project which received a portion of £4,000 of the funding, is the community interest company Sage Gardener’s ‘Friendships with Nature’ initiative.

Based in the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside, it offers light gardening and craft sessions for people suffering from dementia and their carers.

Group director Jane Newman said: “We’ve been lucky enough to be involved in gardening, floristry and other rural activities most of our lives. This has benefitted our health so we are now opening up our friendly garden to give others the chance to share some of these experiences first hand.”