Andover, UK – 15 November 2023: In September this year Andover Mind launched a new fundraising initiative to design and develop a beautiful and inspirational education, health and wellbeing garden within a currently unused piece of land in Longstock. Today, the charity has announced a substantial donation of £25,000 for its ‘Garden for Mind’ project from health solutions company, Simplyhealth.
The project, which will support mental health and wellbeing, as well as educate about climate change challenges and biodiversity loss, is a collaboration between Andover Mind, Waitrose & Partners, and the John Lewis Partnership Golden Jubilee Trust. The Waitrose & Partners Leckford Estate has provided the land to Andover Mind to use to create a community garden to help provide individuals in Test Valley with a safe and nurturing space for relaxation and healing.
Throughout September, Andover employer, Simplyhealth, ran a movement challenge for its colleagues to raise vital funds for the project. Colleagues were encouraged to get moving over a three-week period and share pictures of their activity to unlock a donation from the organisation – by the end of the three weeks colleagues had helped raise £25,000 for Andover Mind.
The donation will go towards landscaping and creating a therapeutic and serene garden environment for individuals facing mental health challenges. This includes planting and maintaining the garden to ensure it provides the intended benefits to the community. Additionally, a portion of the donation will be allocated to awareness campaigns and community engagement initiatives associated with the project.
Libby Hilling, Lead for Andover Mind’s, Garden for Mind project comments: “We are so incredibly thankful to all at Simplyhealth for helping us raise such a huge amount for the project. This generous contribution will serve as a cornerstone for the project’s financial foundation, enabling it to progress towards its objectives with enhanced momentum. We hope this acts as inspiration to other organisations to consider a wellbeing fundraising challenge in aid of Garden for Mind.”
Charlotte Cook, ESG Lead at Simplyhealth adds: “Simplyhealth is a purpose-led organisation, committed to improving access to healthcare support for all, across the UK. We understand moving is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental wellbeing and wanted to encourage our colleagues to make the time to improve their own wellbeing while also supporting our local community. We are extremely proud to have raised so much to help support those in the area. Our commitment to a healthy world has been our driving force for the last 150 years and we will continue to support incredible causes helping those most in need.”
Andrew Hoad, Head of Leckford Estate, said: “We’re proud to be able to support Andover Mind’s brilliant work by providing a part of our nursery space at the Leckford Estate, along with the funds donated by Simplyhealth. We acknowledge and support the need for more awareness around mental health, and we encourage our Partners and customers to spend time in nature to support their wellbeing. We look forward to seeing the creation of the garden and to welcome our visitors and local community to benefit from this important new community facility.”
The ‘Garden for Mind’ project sees volunteers and service users from Andover, Romsey and the surrounding villages come together in nature, providing much needed respite and therapy for mental ill-health, whilst also supporting adult carers and those living with Dementia or mild cognitive impairment. While Andover Mind are leading on this project, the intention is that the garden will provide a welcoming, relaxing and inspiring outdoor space for the whole community to benefit from, with plenty of opportunities for other local charities and organisations to make use of the facilities.
-ENDS-
For more information about Simplyhealth and their commitment to community initiatives, please visit Simplyhealth.com.
Media Contact
Louise Ellison
Communications and marketing manager
louise.ellison@andovermind.org.uk
01264 332 297
About Simplyhealth:
We are a leading health solutions company, committed to providing affordable healthcare, to support everybody’s everyday healthcare needs. Through our health and dental plans, including the market leading Denplan, we look after over two million customers. We aim to support and protect the NHS through the provision of outpatient support to help people live their best lives.
We don’t have shareholders and since 1872 we’ve been led by our purpose of improving access to healthcare, for all in the UK. We are changing the game, investing £60 million in new businesses to accelerate the development of predictive and preventative healthcare services.
We understand our health depends on the health of our communities and our planet. In July 2022, we become the first UK Health Insurers to be awarded B Corp status, cementing our high environmental and social ambitions and continued positive impacts in using business as a force for good. Each year we commit to giving around £1million to a range of community and charity causes.
To find out more, visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk
About Andover Mind
Andover Mind supports anyone experiencing a mental health problem, as well as adult carers, who care for an adult for any reason, and people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Although called “Andover Mind” we actually provide services right across Hampshire, with wellbeing centres in Andover, Basingstoke and Farnborough, and outreach in the community across the boroughs of Test Valley, Basingstoke and Deane and Hart and Rushmoor.
Garden for Mind
The Andover Mind Garden for Mind project aims to achieve several goals, including:
- Creating a Therapeutic Space: The project will transform a designated area into a tranquil and therapeutic garden, offering a peaceful sanctuary for those seeking solace and emotional support.
- Promoting Wellbeing: By providing a green space where individuals can engage with nature, it will promote mental wellbeing and encourage outdoor activities
- Raising Awareness: The project will also raise awareness about the importance of mental health and the need for safe, accessible spaces for mental health support.
Garden for Mind Contact
Libby Hilling
Social Value Delivery Manager
libby.hilling@andovermind.org.uk
About Leckford Estate
Leckford is a 2,800 estate in Hampshire owned by the Partnership for the last 94 years.
It was the vision of our Founder, Spedan Lewis. It was his home and a farm; a place where he could grow produce for his grocery business and a place where he could pursue his interest in conservation and the study of our natural world. Leckford today is a diverse estate with interests in farming, food processing, leisure, property and retail. As the Waitrose Farm, farming is our big story. We farm around 2,500 acres of our own land and a neighbouring farm. We are a mixed farm producing arable crops, beef, apples, pears and grapes.
