Growing Good Health
A new garden space at the Chai Centre in Burnley that allows the local community to come together in nature.
Burnley, England
The garden received funding from our Greener Communities Fund, which allowed them to build raised beds and lead wellbeing sessions for the local community.
The Chai Centre is an adult wellbeing centre at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust that provides talking therapies, exercise classes and use of a new garden space thanks to our Greener Communities Fund.
Weekly sessions are held in the garden to help members of the community to build new skills and gain employment.
Staff from the Trust also benefit from the space by taking the time to go for a walk outside and clear their heads or eat their lunch.
Hasan is the Operational Manager at the Chai Centre. He said:
“The centre is in the heart of the community surrounded by local people. The houses don’t have gardens and there aren’t many green areas.
“The hub is all about prevention work. We have people from the community that have become volunteers because they love coming here so much and supporting the community. It has become a second home for people. You come here and feel like you belong somewhere, it’s a safe place.
“Every Thursday we do arts in nature, and design mosaic tiles for the outside walls of the centre. For me it’s all about the smiles and seeing someone come in and leave with a huge smile, that is what I am coming back for tomorrow.
“It's about giving people opportunities, a confidence boost and utilising their skill set. You can see the change in people in such a short amount of time. They might come in quiet at first and then in a month you can see them thriving.
“Funding has had such an impact, the amount of people it has benefited and how many people come each week is just amazing.”
Watch the video below to learn more.
