Natural Recovery is a community group that aims to use nature as a way of aiding in the recovery of people with mental health conditions. We work at Syrian House, a care home for adults with enduring mental health problems located in Sale, Greater Manchester.
Our organization is run mainly by volunteers from the local community who donate their time to make the project happen. Residents and other service users who frequently participate in our activities also constitute our group. We are a multicultural team with people from different countries and backgrounds and anyone who is interested in our project and aims is welcome to be a member of Natural Recovery.
Volunteers
Residents
We work in partnership with Action for Sustainable Living (AfSL), an environmental charity that supports communities to live more sustainable, and Making Space, the organization that manages Syrian House.
We also work with Trafford Youth Offending Service, providing practical work opportunities for young people who have received Reparation and Referral Orders.
Carolina - Project Manager
Carolina was born in Argentina. She came to England one year ago to undertake postgraduate education and is currently studying for a Masters in Environmental Science.
Christine - Arts & Crafts Teacher
Christine Evans has lived and worked as an artist in Manchester for many years. She facilitates creative groups in a variety of settings including art galleries, hospitals and schools.
Dave - Gardening Coordinator
Dave is who makes Syrian House gardens look wonderful! He has a lot of experience in gardening and on how to manage them in the most sustainable way. He organizes the gardening sessions to ensure the sensory garden comes to life.
Mimi - Care Home Manager
Originally from Romania, Mimi has lived in Manchester for the past 10 years. She has a great knowledge about Mental Health and has become a Dignity Champion (Dignity in Care) thanks to her managing skills and commitment to dignity in Social Care.
Sarah - Support Worker
Sarah is qualified in Therapeutic Support and she provides service users who participate in our activities with support and tools to help them grow in confidence and promote their recovery.
Cristian -IT & e-Marketing Volunteer
Cristian is a marketing professional from Chile who came to the UK in 2009. His expertise lies in website development and the creative application of e-marketing techniques.
Jonah -PR Volunteer
Jonah is a recent graduate from Manchester Business School. He has a passion for writing and the environment and hopes to find work he can combine the two.
Bill - Gardening Volunteer
Bill has always lived in Manchester. He is an expert gardener and has grown his own organic vegetables for 15 years.
Natural Recovery aims to:
Offer the residents of the house the possibility of participating in an environmental project that will improve their mental and physical health, and which will promote their independence, rehabilitation and recovery.
Get the people in the local community involved in a sustainable project where they will learn about the benefits of working with nature and growing their own food.
To bring the community together to share outdoor experiences with residents of Syrian House in an attempt to reduce social exclusion and to help create a society that treats people with experience of mental distress fairly, positively, and with respect.
Natural Recovery is being funded by Ecominds, a £7.5million funding scheme run by Mind on behalf of the BIG Lottery Fund. Ecominds involves people with direct experience of mental distress in environmental projects that improve their mental and physical health, and local communities.
