Over the last few months, our NetPark Wellbeing Project and Hyde Hall have held a joint summer wellbeing project for 15 people living in the Southend area with mental health concerns.
For the 6 sessions, we walked around different areas of the Hyde Hall grounds taking inspiration and back at their education room, participants and volunteers created their own journals using a range of art materials and photographs! We got creative and used nature led techniques, making flower pressings with grown produce the grounds staff brought along. We also got to grow small pots of cress and herbs and mix our own salad dressings – yum!
Participants enjoying the art sessions at Hyde Hall
We had such a great time and we know our participants did too. Read some of their comments below:
“The trips were immense because they took me away from isolation. I’m very isolated, and it has provided me with a non-oppressive way to socialize and connect with various people, which is fantastic. Additionally, I felt very fortunate because I haven’t had the opportunity to experience much in my lifetime, and such experiences really make me happy.“
“When you see all of that and then feel so relaxed that you can freely express yourself, especially when you reach the education centre after walking through each garden, it just comes naturally. Your creativity flows, and you have the chance to choose from various activities. There was a session where we brought a print to life and another where we crafted talismans from pottery, using weeds, bulbs from poppies, and beautiful dried plants.“
NPWB participants living with depression and hearing loss enjoying the Hyde Hall outdoor spaces
After 6 weeks of attending the trips to Hyde Hall:
- 80% said their mental health symptoms had improved after attending the sessions at Hyde Hall
- 80% said their confidence had improved after attending the sessions at Hyde Hall
- 100% said they would recommend the experience
- 67% said they would come back as a volunteer
- 56% of the participants to whom the question was relevant for said since coming they had reduced their GP/Crisis team visits
