Our first 20th anniversary fundraiser Alice has been a volunteer at Growing Well Tebay since October 2023. She’s happy to share her struggles with mental illness, the impact it has had on her life and what it is that helps her as "being open and honest about mental ill health is important in removing the stigma and helping others get the support they need."

Since coming here she has found that her Growing Well day gives her an invaluable sense of purpose, "I love the sense of community and belonging, working alongside other people who I know are having similar struggles really helps. I leave at the end of every day proud of what I have achieved and what we have achieved as a group. I want to fundraise for Growing Well because they have supported me, seen potential in me that I couldn’t and help me every week to set and achieve goals. Raising money for them is a way of thanking them for their incredible concept."

It was a sponsored swim for another charity three years ago that inspired Alice to do the same this year for Growing Well’s 20th birthday. ‘I swam for a charity that supported mums with mental health problems and found that through publicising my swim I was also reaching people who either needed support themselves or knew someone else who did. I hope I can do the same for Growing Well this year and get the word out about just how beneficial it is and how their hands on and personal approach really does work.’ Alice photographs each of her days on site and shares them with friends and family on her social media, both to show them what she’s been doing and to bring Growing Well’s activities to life. ‘It’s only by being here that you really understand how amazing it is.’

Alice has been a keen lake swimmer for the last 10 years and finds it very beneficial for her mental health, so a swim seemed like the perfect challenge for her to set herself and use as a mechanism to raise funds and awareness for us, but she’s not stopping there. To celebrate 20 years of Growing Well, Alice is also going to walk 20 miles. As someone who suffers from hypermobility and the physical difficulties it brings, she has decided to challenge herself with walking this distance throughout June in a series of shorter stages and now her children are joining her too. She said "It’s been great for them to understand why mummy goes to Growing Well, where and what it is. Now they’re getting involved too and really enjoying it."

To sponsor Alice and help her raise vital funds for us you can go to her Just Giving page here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/alice-pattinson-1705432536727

UPDATE: SINEAD'S GREAT NORTH TRIATHLON CHALLENGE POSTPONED

For those of you who don't know, Sinead's year hasn't quite gone as planned as she underwent emergency abdominal surgery in April and has been recovering since then.

Sinead had hoped to be fit and strong enough for her big challenge by now but sadly - and understandably - isn't able to undertake the arduous open water swimming, long distance cycle ride and Great North Run.

"I have deferred my entry for the Great North Run to 2025 and will try again next year! In the meantime, I'm swimming regularly and will hopefully be back on my bike soon." says Sinead.

"I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to Growing Well, am just sorry that I’m not in a position to undertake my challenge at this point in time. Be assured, I'll be back next year to complete my Great North Triathlon Challenge!"
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Sinead McCann is the Manager at Growing Well Kendal, where she works full-time overseeing the day to day running of the site, supporting staff and volunteers who grow all the amazing produce that comes from the largest organic vegetable farm in Cumbria.

When she turned 50, Sinead did a Half Ironman in New Zealand, with another big birthday looming in November, she is going to undertake her own swim – bike – run challenge to raise funds for Growing Well.

Sinead’s Great North Triathlon (GNT) will involve swimming across the 5 largest bodies of water in the Lake District, cycling coast to coast and then completing the Great North Run on consecutive weekends this summer (in August & September).

Sinead says “Doing my own Great North Triathlon will be tough – it’s a while since I’ve done anything so physically challenging. I’m looking forward to doing the swim and bike ride with friends and have always wanted to take part in the Great North Run. Raising money for Growing Well will hopefully give me the motivation I’ll need to get to the finish line – wish me luck!”
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Click on the LINK BELOW to support Sinead's challenge and support Growing Well 20 For 20.

Growing Singing CIC aims to encourage and enable a growing number of people from around Kendal and the South Lakes to find their voices and enjoy the benefits of a blooming good sing. It’s a not-for-profit business run by Clare Elleray and Rachael Wadey, who are both evangelical about how good it is for people to sing together.

The Growing Singers is a 60-strong fundraising community choir. Founded in January 2023, it donates a percentage of fees and all the money collected from performances and community events to Growing Well. During its first year Growing Singers donated over £1500 towards the costs of running Growing Well.

As well as being enthusiastic about the benefits of singing, Clare and Rachael both see the benefits that Growing Well brings to it’s volunteers.

“My first job in Kendal was at Growing Well” says Clare “and over 7 years there I often used to say that I’d hit the job jackpot, so much did I love the work and being there. When I moved back into choir leading it felt really good to continue the connection with such a worthwhile local charity”.

Rachael wholeheartedly agrees: “We are both well aware of the mental health and other benefits of singing with others in a group and we love supporting Growing Well in this way with the choir. We’re also enjoying exploring other connections that Growing Well and Growing Singing may develop over the years”.

A key event of Growing Well’s 20th birthday celebrations this year is a sponsored walk on Saturday 15th June between two of our sites - Tebay Services and Low Sizergh near Kendal.

The route totals just under 20-miles and has been planned by two of our Tebay minibus drivers, Jon Tombs and Joe Faulkner, both passionate and experienced outdoor instructors.

“It is an obvious statement that exercise is good for us - physically, emotionally, and mentally.” says Jon, who has had a lengthy career working with young people in outdoor activities.

“Working outdoors every day I see for myself how spending time in nature is great for everyone’s wellbeing. Whether it’s walking or more vigorous exercise, it gives us a powerful and very welcome dose of mental goodness.”

“I’m really looking forward to being involved in the anniversary walk for Growing Well. We’re all hoping it will encourage and inspire people to get out and exercise in Cumbria’s beautiful countryside, whilst raising vital funds for the charity.”

Westmorland Family have been proud supporters of Growing Well since they started buying vegetables from us for the catering side of their businesses – Tebay Services, Rheged and Westmorland Hotel - some years ago.

In 2022 Growing Well and Westmorland embarked a major new project to open a second Growing Well site at Tebay, situated on an old caravan park adjacent to their M6 northbound services.

Growing Well at Tebay Services opened in the spring of 2023 thanks to significant funding and in-kind support from The Westmorland Family. In the following year this site has supported hundreds of volunteers in Eden and North Cumbria on their journey towards mental health recovery.

Westmorland Family Chair Sarah Dunning: “We are delighted to be to working in partnership with Growing Well on a project that will help to address one of the great needs in our community, which is mental health.”

For Growing Well’s 20th year, Westmorland have set themselves the target of raising £20,000 for our charity through a combination of fundraising events and activities at Tebay Services, Rheged, and the Westmorland Hotel.

Follow us to find out what they get up to and how they progress!

Gina Pennington is one half of the dynamic duo who own Penningtons Tea and coffee, Growing Well is their chosen charity for 2024.

On Sunday 14th April, Gina will be running her 10th marathon raising funds for the Growing Well’s 20-year appeal.

Both Dave and Gina have had their mental health challenges over the years and Growing Well as a local mental health charity really resonated with them. As well as running a marathon for Growing Well, Pennington's have created a special fundraising coffee, on sale in local shops and on their website, from which 10% of sales will go into the funds.
https://penningtonscoffee.co.uk/collections/coffee/products/growing-well-coffee

“I have always found solace and peace in swimming and being outside. Being immersed in a lake has a special way of making you feel part of the landscape and not just a bystander – which I find incredibly calming and restorative.”

She sees participating in the Great North Swim as a milestone in her recovery from a mental health crisis in summer 2023.

“The decision to try and swim a significant distance in Windermere will require commitment, mental and physical strength and a lot of training. I think that confidence and self-belief are also key”.

These are two things that Alison is working on at Growing Well Kendal, where she started volunteering in November 2023.

“At a time when I felt very low, I was referred to Growing Well, knowing that being engaged and busy as well as being outdoors was what I needed. To be accepted and encouraged to participate in physical tasks that are mentally absorbing, working at your own pace whilst being surrounded by people who understand without question has been entirely refreshing.”

As a sign of her appreciation of Growing Well and how being there is supporting her recovery, Alison wants to raise money by asking people to sponsor her Great North Swim.

She says “I hope that doing the swim will help raise the profile of a local and pioneering charity that I am lucky to be involved with. At the same time, spreading awareness of the very real need for us all to talk about mental ill-health is important to me and hopefully enable other people to experience healing the Growing Well way.”

Sunday 11th August is the date for your diary if you want to try something quite unique and help create a very beautiful piece of art on one of our nearby beaches.

Good friend of Growing Well Simon Wheatley is going to be busy on the sands of Morecambe Bay at Bardsea creating one of his magical Mandalas, and he wants you to join him and lend a hand!

Mandalas are Buddhist devotional images often deemed to symbolise an ideal universe. Mandalas come in many forms, often painted on scrolls, and Simon has become something of an renowned expert for creating these on sandy beaches, not to mention his other incredible beach artworks.

“I’ve chosen the August date because of the tides in Morecambe Bay as the 11th falls in a neap tide week and, according to my tide tables, we should have a dry beach to draw on that day.”

There’s plenty of free parking at Bardsea with easy access onto the sands. It’s also where Netflix filmed Simon recently making a Mandala for National Geographic (should be on your TV screens in late summer).

There is no charge for attending or participating in this event, but there will be collection tins if you would like to show your support for Simon and his fundraising for Growing Well.

Click on the links below for the location of this event.

On Saturday 15th June, some of us were undertaking a 20-mile walk between the Growing Well sites at Tebay Services and Low Sizergh. But that was perhaps a little ‘tame’ for Kate Simpson who ran the Spine Challenger South fell race in aid of our charity. The Spine Challenger South is 108-mile long continuous (aka non- stop) ‘race’ along the Pennine way and, as Kate admitted beforehand, “I’m totally intimidated by it!”

“When I entered I’d just had knee surgery and been told I could never run again. I believed I’d never travel fast(ish) and light over the fells, and that I’d lose my favourite way to get lost in my head.”

Those long days on the hills with even longer conversations with friends would be crushed. I believed I’d lost something that is who I am and makes me simply and fundamentally soul-level happy.

With the support of a good physio, some boldness about what’s possible, some necessary medication and putting up with a bit more pain and Kate was back on the hills, “and that makes me happy.”

“Entering the Spine was about challenging my ability to believe in what’s possible. Through all this I realized the true impact the outdoors and running has on my mental wellbeing.”

“Growing Well is a wonderful local charity doing the frontline work to support people with their mental health and they do it through the practical pleasure of growing things to eat and the power of community.”

The team at the Preston offices of global legal firm Hill Dickinson, along with friends at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust, recently held a Cake & Bake Sale for Growing Well but organiser Harriet Morgan decided that she wanted a bigger challenge…

A team of six (possibly even more!) are planning an additional fundraising epic for Growing Well in the form of undertaking a 5-peaks challenge for us on 28th September.

“I have racked my brains and come up with an idea for a ‘big challenge’ and the inspiration arrived in the form of a ‘5 Peaks Challenge’ in September. We will be walking up five Lake District peaks in one day in - Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End, Ill Crag and the small matter of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike.”

“In total, this represents nearly 1,400m of ascent and a walking distance of more than 20k. The intention is to complete the challenge in approximately 8-10 hours.”

To celebrate 20 years of Growing Well and to mark the end of a busy summer season, Kath Becker, Carolyn Francis and the Lakeland Fiddlers are hosting a Harvest Ceilidh.

All are welcome to join the party on Saturday 21st September at Castle Street Community Centre, Kendal LA9 7AD.

Doors open at 7.15pm and the dancing starts at 7.30pm. Soft drinks and light refreshments will be available.

As a Support Volunteer, Kath spends every Tuesday working alongside core volunteers and staff on the field and in the polytunnels at the original Growing Well site at Low Sizergh.

“Growing Well is a special place - there’s such a positive sense of camaraderie on site - we all work together, immersed in the tasks. It builds real connection - to the environment - to growing and to each other. We share a sense of satisfaction and pride in what we do, and I feel good knowing that I’m supporting other people to improve their mental health along the way. It’s my happy place!”

Kath had the idea of hosting a ceilidh close to the Harvest Moon to bring people together to celebrate Growing Well and to raise funds while having a good time.

She invited Carolyn Francis and The Lakeland Fiddlers to be the band for the night, as they’re known for the lively atmosphere they create with their music.

Tickets are £10 (adults) and £5 (under 16s) and can be purchased at: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/66383

You can find out more about the Lakeland Fiddlers on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LakelandFiddler1

First held back in 1999, Truck Festival is held at each summer Hill Farm, near Didcot, and has grown to become a firm favourite on the UK’s festival scene. The Festival is held on the family farm of Elaine Morgan, the sister-in-law of Kate Lund, our Office Manager at Growing Well at Tebay Services.

For over 20 years the festival has committed to fundraising for a wide range of charities through offering not for profit food stalls on the festival site in the Feel Good Food Tent.

The Smoothie Stand is run by Elaine herself, and is a real family affair with Kate, her daughters, brothers, nieces, cousins (and about 30 other volunteers) all working there throughout the Festival.

Held on the last weekend in July it proved to be a record breaking year blessed with hot sunny weather, with freshly blended smoothies being sold non-stop over the four days of the Festival. The proceeds from the sales of smoothies were split between a few charities, and they have kindly chosen to donate £4,000 to Growing Well's 20 For 20 campaign as one of those good causes.

Clare is the Director of Nursing and Quality - The Bay at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and on Saturday 28th September will be taking part in the 5 Peaks Challenge along with LSCFT colleagues and a team from law firm Hill Dickinson.

Setting off from Old Dungeon Ghyll car park in the Langdale Valley, Clare and the team will ascend to our first peak, Rossett Pike (651m), followed by Allen Crags (785m), then to Great End (910ml), then on to Ill Crag (935m) and finally to England's highest peak Scafell Pike (978m).

In total, they will walk approximately 20k throughout the day, ascend 1390m and be out on the fells for between 8 and10 hours – this is definitely not for the faint hearted!

“Growing Well is a great referral partner allowing us to promote recovery and gain support for individuals who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health. The benefits of Growing Well’s alternative approach in a community setting, providing activity as an alternative or alongside other therapies for those requiring on-going support, is very valuable.”

As the autumn nights draw in and the days shorten, it feels like the right time to come together inside somewhere warm and welcoming, so it’s the perfect time to test your brain and have some fun at the Growing Well Pub Quiz.

Join us at The Factory Tap in Kendal on Wednesday 30 October for a spook-tacular vegetable themed quiz.

All welcome, entry is £2 per person – max. 6 people in a team.
Prizes for winning team and best team name.

On Saturday 19th October, Patrick will be running the Langdale Half Marathon in the heart of the Lake District for Growing Well.

Patrick freely admits that, having never ran any distance like this previously, choosing a run with the reputation of one of the UK’s toughest half marathons may have been a bit of a jump in the deep end, with gradients on some of the hills reaching 1:3 in places.

He wants to do this to support the work being done through Growing Well, especially for the new site that has opened up in his local area of Egremont and West Cumbria. The money raised from this will go to helping support people who need it that are facing difficulties with their mental health and helping to positively improve their lives.
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If you'd like to support Patrick and help raise funds for Growing Well, please click on the link below.

On Tuesday 15th October, the amazing folk at Dosa Chaska will be hosting a Dosa making experience at the Growing Well site in Egremont to help raise awareness and funds for our charity.

The event is open to everyone - come along and join us! We're sure you'll have fun, learn a new skill and eat the most delicious food all at the same time as supporting two brilliant not-for-profit organisations. What’s not to like?

This is a 'pay what you feel' event - £15 per person is suggested, but it's up to you!

Dosa Chaska are a West Cumbrian-based non profit organisation and a catalyst for unity in our community through the vibrant world of Indian cuisine. Our Indian food experience unites diverse individuals, fostering a sense of togetherness while educating about the health benefits of Indian vegetarian dishes infused with an array of flavours and spices.

Please contact Hannah Wright at hannah@growingwell.co.uk to book your place. First come, first served!

Along with mum, Sarah Dunning, and dad, Joel, Alice is running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October in aid of Growing Well.

"Besides the many things that are amazing about Growing Well, we particularly resonate with its understanding that for a significant proportion of individuals, talking therapy is not always the best solution to recovery, despite being the most commonly prescribed form of therapy."

"What’s particularly striking for us is that many say that the day they attend Growing Well is the best day of their week."

"With Growing Well being a small charity, and fundraising and grants being hard to bag as of current, means that fundraisers like this run will have great impact in helping them to continue to do their fabulous work. So please, please donate what you can - it will mean so much to us, but even more so to Growing Well and its beneficiaries!"

Alice has set an incredible target of £10,000 for her fundraising and is already well on the way to achieving this with very generous donations from friends, family, well wishers and local businesses. You can visit her JustGiving page via the link below.

Support during Growing Well's 20th anniversary year has come from all corners, and we were absolutely blown away when two of our youngest supporters asked if they could undertake their own sponsored walk for us.

Kara (aged 8) and her sister Ruby (aged 6) wanted to play their part in our 20 For 20 campaign and undertook a 20-mile walk from Keswick and finishing in Threlkeld.

Kara said: "We wanted to do it because when we had heard what had happened at Growing Well Tebay to the plants and polytunnels, we wanted to raise money so they could fix them." Back in May, the Growing Well Tebay site was subjected to some quite mindless vandalism with polytunnels slashed and seedlings destroyed, and it was this which inspired these two plucky girls to don their hiking boots, stride out and raise £120 for us.

Kara and Ruby's mum also attends Growing Well at our Tebay Services site as a beneficiary, and is also a great advocate of our work supporting people with their mental health recovery.

A great effort by these two young girls, we think you'll agree!

Local artist Carol Lewis has been a longstanding supporter of ours - selling her artwork and cards, and running felting workshops. Throughout 2024, Carol has donated proceeds from her work to us, raising over £1,500 for Growing Well - a great and incredibly generous achievement, thank you Carol!

Carol will be at Hawkshead Christmas Fair on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December 2024 - why not pop along and support her, and buy some beautiful Christmas gifts and original artwork.

Congratulations and a massive well done to local Kendal resident Andras Moricz who ran the Chester Marathon in October in aid of Growing Well.

He is aware of our work from walking through the Kendal site at Low Sizergh on days when he's not working. He chose to support Growing Well as, in his words, "I think it is such an important cause and work that you do, and you are an amazing charity.’

Andras had never run a marathon before, not even a half marathon or 10k and with no previous running experience, incredibly he only gave himself 11 weeks to prepare.

However, as you can see from the smiling face and the medal around his neck, he completed the marathon in an amazing time of just over 5 hours.

So far he has raised £380, smashing his original target of £300. Should you wish to show your support for Andras, his JustGiving page can be found by clicking on the link below.