NHS Partnership

NHS Therapeutic Partnership

Since 2023 Heartwood has worked in partnership with the Derbyshire Dales Mental Health Trust. We have received funding from the National lottery Awards for All fund, Mind and Derbyshire County Council so that together we have been able to run annual mental health recovery groups on the farm. These have been called Active Confidence Groups.
Each group has run over ten weeks through the summer months, to provide a creative therapeutic environment. Here participants have received psychoeducation from their NHS occupational therapists, alongside nature-connection, mindfulness and heritage craft activities offered by Heartwood’s staff. We offer space for up to fourteen clients on each course.
In addition to this we offer continued connection with the farm and are growing a community of past group members through additional land-based creative days. This helps build on the work of the groups, and deepen their impact. In 2024 we had funding for twenty weeks of extended support and this formed the Living and Growing project. For 2026 and 2027, we have funding for five additional days each year.
The opportunity for participants to grow together as a group, then begin to find safety both with each other and within the natural world has been life-enhancing for group members. Here are some of their comments:

‘Felt safe and like there are people out there who are patient and I can talk to, experiencing the same experiences or know what it is like to cope with unique circumstances.’

‘I am starting to see how mindful the natural world is and how soothing it is’

‘Honestly, I feel like I am meant to be. It’s been a long time since I've been able to feel comfortable around others and be comfortable with myself. This group has made me feel that again.’

During the sessions participants have enjoyed a diverse range of activities including forest bathing, meeting the animals, willow weaving, felting, working with clay, well dressing, foraging fruit to make jam, sitting round the campfire and making pizza.

Most enjoyed … ‘all the animals, especially the dogs! Loved learning how to do a wide range of new and fun activities.’

‘Who knew that I would enjoy being outside so much!!?’

‘I really enjoyed learning new skills and being able to be creative with clay, willow weaving, spinning wool.’

At the end of the group, the participants reflect on their process and next steps. It has been such a privilege each year to witness their process and hear about the steps they have gone on to take.
Here are more comments from the participants:

‘I’m going to learn to communicate more and I've learnt that just sitting and taking things in (doing mindfulness) helps massively when I’m anxious.’

‘I’ll take away some mindfulness techniques to use in everyday life…’

‘There are kind, caring people out there and I am not alone in my struggles. I will be kinder to myself and accept my limitations without seeing them as failures on my part’

‘I have gained confidence and will work to build on this going forward‘

Each year, participants have actively re-engaged with life again. Some have gone on to take up roles in peer support, employment or voluntary work, or gone on to higher education/ training or simply felt able to participate in family and community life once more. Some group members have continued to meet outside of the farm and continue to offer one other support and friendship. The word cloud is formed from the three words each participant has fed back to us at the end of the group.