Growing Well cultivates well-being for Cumbria's diaspora communities

The collaborative project, spearheaded by Cumbria CVS, seeks to address research findings that suggest asylum seekers are five times more likely to require mental health support than the general population.

The project has partnered with the kitchen garden and mental health charity Growing Well.

Their approach aims to tackle the statistic that over 61 per cent of asylum seekers in the region are believed to suffer from 'severe mental distress'. 

People from Cumbria's diaspora groups all smiles at Growing Well at Tebay (Image: Eden Film)

Under the supervision of experienced therapeutic growers and mental health support staff, Growing Well seeks to rebuild confidence and encourage peer support, all the while developing a green thumb. 

Growing Well at Tebay Services manager Cate Bentley said: "We initially started working with the men from the Hilltop Hotel but through Multicultural Cumbria became aware of the women’s hotel and working with them too seemed like absolutely the right thing to do.

"We bring the groups down one day per week to spend the day on site, getting involved in the activity.

"They have helped us develop the site from scratch, building polytunnels and raised beds, helping us grow and harvest the salads and vegetables which we sell to Tebay services just a few hundred metres away," she said. 

Alongside Multicultural Cumbria, representatives from Carlisle's Refugee Action Group are helping support the project - with Eden Film documenting their journey along the way. 

"The feedback from the men and women has been amazing and we know how much many of them see their day with Growing Well as a highlight of their week, giving them the opportunity to get away from the hotel, and spend time outdoors, being productive and working as a team.

The group has been visiting Growing Well at Tebay once a week. (Image: Eden Film)

"Since we started working with the groups in January, we have helped over 100 people seeking asylum and it’s a privilege to do so.

"Growing Well Tebay continues, pardon the pun, to grow. We now support people across Eden and North Cumbria with their mental health.

"Anyone who needs support with their mental health, whether they have a formal diagnosis or not, can be with us in as little as two weeks," Cate said. 

The group offers a free minibus service across Eden and North Cumbria to bring anyone to the site looking to improve their health. 

For more information, visit Growing Well on Facebook.