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RF TWIGS
Annual Report
2006-07
1.
Introduction
1.1 Mission Statement
Twigs exists to provide
creative occupational opportunities, which encourage the restoration of
mental well-being via the therapeutic mediums of horticulture and
associated crafts.
1.2 Service Provision
Twigs aims to give people who
experience mental health problems the chance to regain confidence, self
esteem, and learn new skills. It is a stepping-stone to recovery, further
training, education or work.
Twigs is integrated within the local
community via its opportunities for volunteering and joint working.
Employees from local companies take part in one–off projects and we work
with local conservation groups such as, Swindon and District Bee Keepers
Association, BTCV, Great Western Community Forest, Thrive and Wiltshire
Wildlife Trust.
The staff team consists of:
Project Manager Alan
Holland
Senior Supervisor Phyllida
Richards
Gardening Supervisor Les
Carter
Allotment Supervisor
Michelle Wright
Administrator
Sharon Wood
We are assisted in delivering our service by
up to 20 volunteers which provides 90hrs/week additional support. This
invaluable support is equivalent to an additional 2.4 full time
posts.
We believe that each individual has the
capacity to grow. All who come to TWIGS contribute to not only a valuable
community resource, but also to each other’s recovery. We are open as a
community garden twice a week and hold two open days a year as well as
taking part in various local events.
We strongly believe in sustainability, both
in terms of mental health and horticultural production. The therapeutic
nature of the grounds help facilitate a healing process for many people,
and just as we witness growth in our plants, we constantly see growth
against ‘soft outcomes’ for those using our service.
At Twigs we believe in .. individuality ..
recycling .. natural .. Inspiration organics .. balance .. quality ..
harmony .. gorgeousness…and acceptance of each other.
2.
Outcomes
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Twigs worked with 158 individuals, 72 of which
have been new referrals.
Clients have been referred from a variety of agencies including
the Community Mental Health Teams, Supported Housing Projects, Drug
and Alcohol Services, Forensic Services and GP’s. The gender balance
over the period was 61% male and 39% female. 5.7% of clients were
from minority ethnic groups. The age division was as shown on the
right. We monitor the occupancy figures for TWIGS. The chart below
shows how the occupancy fluctuates throughout the year with July and
October being the fullest months this year. The average amount of
sessions attended each month during the year is 305 sessions.
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Of the 158 clients registered with the service, all received a
personal development plan, closely linked to their CPA where
applicable. During the year 69 people left the service. The outcomes
are shown in the chart below.
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3. Client Contribution and
Feedback
Clients are involved in
making decisions about the running of the service. They have opportunities
to attend monthly general meetings, put ideas forward in an anonymous
suggestion box, put suggestions forward at the daily communication slot
and complete a yearly evaluation. There is also the opportunity to express
their views in one to one discussions they may have with their supporting
staff member. In December 2006 30% of individuals asked decided to provide
feedback through this medium of the evaluation a copy of which can be
supplied.
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When asked why they came to Twigs the following responses were
given.
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Other client comments in the report about TWIGS
included:
“I haven’t been with TWIGS long but I already feel a
brighter future and now want to go on to do other
things”
“TWIGS is the only service of it’s kind in Swindon and it is
very much needed.”
“I feel TWIGS provide a greatly under valued service to the
community”
“TWIGS is invaluable. I’m so glad I was referred. It helps
me feel worthwhile, I matter.”
““I don’t have much in
my life at this moment in time and TWIGS gives me something to look
forward to and a sense of belonging, without it I feel I would
easily slip down that slippery slope and maybe not get back up
again.” |
4. Service Funding
The service
was core funded by Swindon Borough Council and Primary Care Trust,
European Social Fund, Big Lottery and Zurich Community Trust. We also
raise funds from product sales , project bids and receive personal
donations.
The European Social Fund provided us with £136,165
this year and continue to fund us until September 2007. Swindon Borough
Council fund us from the borough, mental health grant and primary care
trust and for this year we received £80,935. From the Big Lottery we
received £11,044 in this year but that funding stream ended in June.
Zurich Community Trust funded us with £12,120 this year and will support
us with £7,120 next year. We received £4,000 from The Trusthouse
Charitable Foundation and £1,650 this year in the form of donations and
moneys from other sources, including Thames Water. Finally we received
an income of £9,045 from sales. A breakdown of income and expenditure
can be seen below.
5. Summary/Managers
Report
TWIGS has come through a difficult year with the
knowledge that two staff posts had to go due to ESF funding ending in 2007
and Lottery funding ending 2006 . Despite this we continued to meet our
outcomes and outreach to local community groups and sister service RF
Wiltshire Outreach.
Our sales continued well , including our
organic vegetable bag scheme, and this remains a real motivational area
for many of our service users .
Exciting initiatives included
working in partnership with Thames Water to install a water efficient
irrigation system pumped by wind and solar power and taking part in a
series of ‘exchange’ visits with Oxfordshire based ‘Root and Branch’ - we
took a group over to take advantage of their black smithing facilities –
they came over to us for some specialised craft workshops.
Thanks
to the funding we received from the Trusthouse Foundation we continued to
help improve the Richard Jefferies garden at Coate Water. We also provided
a series of summer art workshops for the public . A new garden area at
Stanton park was designed here at TWIGS and we are growing many of the
plants that will be needed for this project . Maintenance work continues
on a regular basis at the Brunel garden in Swindon town centre
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Moving into 2007 /08 is a real challenge . Two staff down
inevitably means that we will work with less service users and scale down
our outreach . However we are determined to still provide a top quality
service .
Finding the funding we need will not be easy , however
positive steps are being taken - a local group of supporters are looking
to raise funds through establishing a ‘Friends of TWIGS’ fundraising
committee . The Mayor has chosen TWIGS as one of his charities for the
year which should help us raise badly needed funds. |
