Seeding the Change Case Study
Seeding the Change is led by a registered mental health nurse and a general practitioner (GP) with the goal of supporting social prescribing. With 20% of a GP's time dedicated to addressing social issues like loneliness and isolation, this initiative aims to help Stockport residents manage anxiety and depression while building self-esteem, interpersonal skills, and motivation. Each year, Seeding the Change supports 100 people through various programs.
Among their offerings are weekly gardening sessions that provide a space to learn and share gardening skills. They also maintain a green space designed for children, with wildlife areas and sensory planting, encouraging participants to explore natural ecosystems and develop an interest in the environment. Additionally, they host seasonal events like Easter egg hunts.
Participants have shared that they eagerly anticipate Mondays and have noticed significant improvements in their mental health because of the program.
“Many thanks to Skylight- the polytunnel has been invaluable. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to run right through the winter”
The Skylight Community Fund awarded £2,000 to Seeding the Change, which was used to purchase a polytunnel, a wood chip tree station, wood for staging and raised beds, and pond materials. The polytunnel has enabled the program to continue throughout the winter and has been utilized for various other activities, including wreath-making, floristry sessions, art sessions, lunches, games, and growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Additionally, the remaining funds were used to create a naturalistic pond to enhance biodiversity.
The impact Seeding the change has had on individuals is clear, one lady who has a meal in the polytunnel stated it is the only hot meal she will have all week. They also have a member who travels two hours on the bus from Burnley because it means so much to him.
