Mental health project celebrates success

Mental health project celebrates success

By Charlotte Fantelli

Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust and Manchester Mind, came together a year ago to create the ‘Bite project’, a fantastic initiative aimed at helping mental health sufferers and the community.
The project enables people with mental health issues to get involved in growing vegetables and cooking food, and has allotments and cafes across the city. In doing so it brings service users together, helps them work as a team and enjoy the social and personal benefits of volunteering.

John Dunne, (pictured far left) is 46 and from North Manchester, he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and tells how much the project has improved his quality of life and social network: “It’s somewhere to come, do something productive and meet people,

“It’s something to look forward to and I also walk here which takes me 25 minutes so that’s good exercise. My mood has really improved since I’ve been involved. When my GP first suggested it I didn’t want to come because I thought I wouldn’t be able to mix with people but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” He adds.

The project is now celebrating its first anniversary and has even more reason to celebrate, as it has been awarded a £1500 grant by construction company Carillion. Carillion have also allowed the project space in its central location.

Project lead Rowena Pyott said the support they have received by Carillion will “let us kick on to the next stage in our development. More customers will mean more activity and opportunities for people who experience mental health problems.”

Being able to be a part of a team and contribute to something like this builds confidence and skills. Mental Healthy believe this project and others like it are incredible and touch the lives of local people that are so often overlooked.

Recovery Connect Worker Ian McMahon, 47, tells Mental Healthy, “The project serves different needs for different people. For most it’s just the fact they have a work ethic and its something that feels like work. They feel like they are contributing and at the end of the day they can look at what they’ve achieved.

“I can see people growing and getting more confident, taking on more responsibility. To see people achieving personal growth and to be a part of that gives me immense personal satisfaction. It’s a fantastic scheme and I really believe in it. Its unique within the NHS because it’s a collaboration where volunteers come from Mind and service users referred through the NHS.

“The whole thing feels, fresh and vital and I believe it will grow.”

We wish them every success.

For more information on the project, including how to sign-up for a VegBag or FruitBag please email [email protected].

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