Hope Haven celebrates latest milestone as King Street hub opens
NHS charity provides funding to help older people’s ward bloom.
The SHINE Fund gave over £40,000 to Akenside Ward to transform the garden area for patients.
Part of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW)’s charity, SHINE aims to improve patient experience and wellbeing across the Trust’s mental health, learning disability and neurological care services.
Akenside Ward is for older people with mental health problems. The ward has recently moved from the Campus of Ageing and Vitality (CAV) in Newcastle to St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth.
Over the last two years, the team developed the outdoor area at CAV into a thriving therapy garden for patients. The funding has allowed them to recreate the garden at the new site, with the help of volunteer George Moat.
The money has gone towards:
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Resurfacing the area with tarmac making it easier for patients to walk on and wheelchair access
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Installing a ramp to access the back of the garden
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Renovating the shed
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Raised beds making it easier for wheelchair users
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Paint for the shed and fences
In addition to the money from SHINE, staff and volunteers have also done some fundraising of their own.
Volunteer George Moat raised £1,132 doing a skydive, consultant psychiatrist Will raised £600 running the Great North Run and porter Stephen Dixon raised £160 for the cause. This money helped the service pay for materials like compost, plants, seeds and gardening tools.
Ward manager Kelly Barron said: “Horticultural therapy has so many benefits. It helps improve patient experience and can contribute to faster recovery times. The space also helps our patients, families and carers, giving them a relaxing space to visit.
“The garden at our old site had become a real focal point so to be able to replicate this in our new space means everything to both staff and patients.
“I would also like to thank Daria in the marketing team for her help.”
Volunteer George has been instrumental in supporting patients with the garden. He helps them with potting plants, planting seeds and watering, as well as just encouraging people to go to the garden for a cup of tea and a chat.
He also takes patients to garden centres where they can pick something out to grow.
George said: “Once I knew we were moving to St Nicholas Hospital I wanted to fundraise to have a beautiful garden and therapeutic space for patients.
“I 100% believe being outside in open spaces is so beneficial; it keeps you focused and gives you something different to think about.
“Without SHINE, we wouldn’t have the lovely space the way it is.”
Consultant psychiatrist Will said: “What’s fantastic about horticultural therapy and the work George does is that it helps patients in so many ways.
“It helps them socialise, planting seeds and digging helps them use fine and gross motor skills, and there are also psychological aspects to gardening.”
The team hopes to further improve the garden with plans to add stepping stones and water features in the future.
Money from the SHINE Fund is used to provide the extras that make a big difference to patient recovery. Since launching in 2014, SHINE has funded hundreds of projects, supporting patients with everything from exercise equipment and pet therapy to ward decorations and yoga classes.
