Ealing growing group provides ‘Food for the Mind’ throughout the pandemic

Slowing down and looking after our mental health has been a necessary part of the last year, and for Ealing based charity, MindFood, reconnecting people with nature as a form of self-care has been crucial. The group is being awarded almost £10,000 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to support people whose anxiety or depression has worsened during the pandemic by teaching food growing and mindfulness.

MindFood is using new funding to continue its Plot to Plate ecotherapy programme which helps people tackle stress, depression, anxiety, and isolation and reconnect them with nature in a friendly and supportive environment. Programme participants can grow fruit, veg, flowers and herbs and embrace the environment through guided walks, creative projects and contact with nature.

Lucy Clark first joined the group as a participant in 2015 and is now MindFood Programme Director. She said: “MindFood gave me the tools, time and space to recover from burnout and depression. Three weeks after joining I realised I never wanted to work indoors again and it inspired me to train for a new career in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.

“The grant from The National Lottery Community Fund is fundamental, it really allows us to focus on helping people recover at their own pace. Gardening is just a backdrop to what we do - nature is a fantastic canvas for getting people to learn to slow down and take better care of their brains. A lot of people who live in cities get disconnected with nature and don’t tend to see the green around them. London is in fact 47% green, yet many would say London is grey.

“This funding is allowing us to continue making a positive difference to people’s wellbeing, helping them eat better, feel fitter, more calm, happier and less isolated. Thanks to National Lottery players for allowing us to continue our gardens that help people create lasting well-being habits.”

Since the start of the pandemic, MindFood has received over £20,000 of National Lottery funding to help those struggling with the effects of lockdown. The latest project, which will run for six months at Horsenden Hill and Cleveley Crescent Allotments in Ealing, will support more than 100 people. Participants will dedicate 2.5 hours of self-care time a week to grow produce from seed and harvest this produce at home.

Heather Parsons, 73, who has been attending the Plot to Plate project for the last four years, said: “When the pandemic hit, I was very worried that I would lose the support network the group provides as a lot of us are vulnerable and would be locked away due to health reasons. But MindFood stepped in really quickly and organised seed drop offs, Zoom meetings and cookery classes. The group was a real lifesaver for my mental health.

“For most of us Plot to Plate is the main thing in our lives, especially over the pandemic when we were unable to see family and friends. We were able to go out to the allotments and polytunnels safely as there was so much outdoor space.

“The group welcomes such a wide range of individuals, I thought it would be more people my age who are retired but there’s a lot of young people, from professionals to people who are currently unemployed. It’s a just a huge mix of people who got on really well and look out for each other. Although I’m one of the oldest I don’t feel any different, we all bring different things,” added Heather.

MindFood is just one of more than 800 charities and community groups across London benefiting from over £30 million of National Lottery funding throughout 2021 so far.*

London isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £200 million has been distributed to more than 4,500 community groups across England so far this year’.*

Helen Bushell, Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I am incredibly proud to see the amazing impact that money raised by National Lottery players is having in communities across London. Recent challenges have shone a light on the inspiring volunteers and groups, like MindFood, who have been dedicated to helping their communities to thrive. This funding has given a much-needed boost to community spirit this year after what have been some extremely difficult times.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Thanks to National Lottery players, last year we awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK. Over eight in ten (83%) of our grants are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

National Lottery players raise £36 million each week for good causes throughout the UK**.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk