Aly Trenholme, Branching Out's first outreach worker, and Dave Sweeney, former volunteer celebrate the win.

Community Options receives £85k to continue exceptional local eco project in Bromley.

Today Branching Out, the outdoor project run by Community Options in Bromley, celebrates the win of a £85,000 Ecominds grant from the mental health charity Mind, on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund.

The award comes in recognition of the project’s invaluable work to date, supporting local residents with experience of mental health problems, by using horticulture as a form of therapy. The money, the project’s second Ecominds grant, will fund Branching Out to continue this work and set the project up for long-term success and sustainability.

The current project works with the community and friends of parks groups to improve local green spaces and increase awareness of mental health. Community Options will use the Ecominds funding to turn the project into a social enterprise providing gardening services in the Bromley area. This will enable Branching Out to transform the lives of more people with mental health issues whilst providing a sustainable and useful service to the local community.

The project which supports people to recover from mental illness through structured planning, has so far seen 57 participants pass City and Guilds level 1 in Practice Horticulture, and 42 people gain a full diploma. As well as gaining practical skills, participants have flourished in other areas of their lives, building self-esteem and improving mental and physical health.

Research shows outdoor exercise can be as effective as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate anxiety and depression – and is available locally without the waiting times, costs or negative side effects associated with many other treatment options.

GPs are starting to recognise the role outdoor projects like Branching Out can play in the treatment of people with mental health problems, and so the need for these services is increasing. The Ecominds grant will help the Branching Out project respond to this demand, against the difficult backdrop of budget cuts, changes to service commissioning and increased public demand for mental health support.

Chris Mansi, CEO of Community Options says: “We are thrilled to be able to continue supporting those who attend Branching Out each week. When we established the project we believed recruiting volunteers would be a challenge, but the opposite is true. We have more people wanting to take part than we envisaged! This project has already directly transformed the lives of 57 people with mental health issues and provided gardening outreach sessions for another 97 people with mental health problems. Thanks to this second Ecominds grant from Mind, we will be able to help many more people experiencing mental health problems in the months and years ahead.”

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind said: “This additional burst of BIG funding presents Ecominds projects with an incredible opportunity to provide long-term support at a local level, for those who need it most. Outdoor therapy has become a life line for many, offering an alternative form of treatment that can be maintained for life. It is fantastic that projects can now rise to the very real challenge of uncertainty and change in service provision nationally. We are excited to continue our work with projects over the coming year as they develop to fulfill the grant objectives and support those in their communities.”

Branching Out is one of 87 outdoor exercise projects in England to receive secondary Ecominds awards from Mind today, thanks to a further £2 million from the Big Lottery Fund. Evaluation of the Ecominds scheme, since it started in 2010, shows the clear social and economic impact of the programme – with participants reporting improved physical and mental wellbeing, thousands moving onto further volunteering, training or paid work; and across the country, communities experiencing improved access to green spaces.

Community Options are delighted to have been shortlisted for the 2012 London Excellence awards.

The awards attract nominations from small charities and huge organisations, such as Ernst and Young and Mott MacDonald, and aim to recognise exceptional approaches, achievements and results that demonstrate sustainable excellence.

Community Options has made it through to the next round for both the leadership and customer focus awards, and will be facing a panel of judges later this month.

Community Options CEO, Chris Mansi said she was “proud and delighted” at the news.

On 8th July 2012, our brave runners will be taking part in a 10K race to raise funds for Community Options’ choir, Harmony and drama group, ACE.

Community Options has been using music, art, dance and drama as part of the treatment programmes for people with the mental health needs, but desperately need more funding to continue with this excellent work. The people community Options have been working with have really gained from the opportunity to express themselves creatively, and if we may say so they are pretty good. They have even performed at the O2.

Click here to read more about Harmony. Click here to read more about ACE.

Why raise money for Community Options’ arts groups?

When we set up these groups the aim was to offer a space to share experiences and recovery journeys, to develop creativity through games, drama exercises, and song. These groups have been so successful that they are massively oversubscribed. Friendships have been made and talents discovered. Through performance, self-awareness and self-esteem have increased. Most of all people have fun. Our initial funding is ending and without help we will not be able to continue Harmony and ACE. Please show your support and make a donation now and save the future of this excellent work.

Just £7.50 pays for one person, who may not otherwise be able to afford it, to attend a 2 hour drama session.

What people who have attended have said:

“I really enjoyed the choir. The leader was inspirational, a good role model. My self confidence improved especially after the O2!”



“It gives me confidence and enjoy my life more.”



“I came to Harmony, to try and get a double dose of happiness. It’s a great group and I love to attend. There is very little available in Bromley for someone who has a mental illness but who has insight into their illness and is well and stable. This group always raises everyone’s spirits when they attend. Also we all love performing especially at Green Park House our local psychiatric hospital. Our teacher Caroline, is brilliant – so enthusiastic and patient and our pianist, they really work hard with us and it’s the best thing ever!!!”

So let’s meet our budding athletes, who the Olympic organisers may have passed by but who are our champions:

Name: Mike Cox
Occupation: Head of Income Generation.
Sporting achievements to date: I ran the London Marathon many years ago and hope to revisit past glories.
Reason for running: As Head of Income Generation I need to lead by example. I am getting older and this may be my last chance to run before by body gives up the ghost.
Training tips and secrets: Carbohydrate loading is my favourite part of training.
Thing most looking forward to about the run: Being able to stop training afterwards.
Anything else (last words!): No pain, no gain.

Name: Emma McLaren
Occupation: College Secretary
Sporting achievements to date: Ran various Race for Life 5k/10k, London 10k, Trees for Life 5k and the Brighton Marathon. Came third in the egg and spoon race at University.
Reason for running: I love it!
Training tips and secrets: Build up your race length by 10% every week, listen to good music, run with a buddy and plan a good feed/drink for afterwards!
Thing most looking forward to about the run: The emotional ups and downs, runners high and the beer afterwards.
Anything else (last words!): Run Forrest, Run!

Name: Rose Viggiani
Occupation: Chief Executive, London Excellence.

Sporting achievements to date: I waddled the 10k in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Reason for running: Running? Not me!
Training tips and secrets: Alison’s dog Harvey keeps us going each evening!
Thing most looking forward to about the run: The exhilarating atmosphere on the day.
Anything else (last words!): If I can do it, anyone can!

Name: Kelly Neighbour
Occupation: HR Advisor.
Sporting achievements to date: I ran the Brighton Marathon in 2011 and done a few 5 and 10k runs.
Reason for running: Always helps motivation in training and running an event when you are raising funds for something – in this case to help the choir group Harmony and Drama group Aceat Community Options continue.
Training tips and secrets: Lots of sleep, carbs and good trainers.
Thing most looking forward to about the run: The buzz you feel when you have finished.
Anything else (last words!): A beer never tastes so good as after a long run!