UK Enterprise Awards 2019

73 | SME NEWS - UK Enterprise Awards 2019 Part of the Richmond Fellowship mental health charity, The Old Moat Garden Centre & Café reinvests all of its profits and revenue back into the charity as well as its own service at the centre providing a vital work-based program for local people living with mental ill health, giving them the confidence and skills to get back into work and employment. As part of this year’s UK Enterprise Awards winners, which explores some of the most fascinating organisations from this year’s programme, we profile the organisation and its innovative approach to supporting the local community. Best Community Outreach & Mental Health Support Advocates - Surrey Based in Epsom, Surrey, The Old Moat is a unique garden centre outlet offering an extensive array of quality plants, gardening essentials and gifts and the chance to support members of the local community. It also has a very popular and friendly café. This support comes in the form of a voluntary supported work programme usually lasting two years, which can be undertaken in horticulture, catering and retail. Through these programmes The Old Moat offers people living with mental ill health the chance to gain skills and confidence in a respectful, safe and supportive environment. People can either self-refer or come via their GP, other charities, volunteer centres or community mental health teams, with the team at The Old Moat working hard to ensure that everyone who wants to work with them receives help that is tailored to their specific requirements. Every year The Old Moat helps around 150 people to gain confidence and skills and move back into mainstream community life. The ripple effect of this support touches hundreds more as their families and friends will gain peace of mind, waiting lists in doctors’ surgeries and hospitals are reduced, employers gain qualified confident staff, and the community is enriched by the increased participation of the people the organisation supports. Led by an energetic new Garden Centre Manager, 23-year-old Jack Shilley, a small team of eleven staff supports and encourages assistance and a unique opportunity to work in this popular garden centre. Moving forward, The Old Moat, which is part of Richmond Fellowship, will continue to ensure it provides even more people living with mental ill health with the practical support and assistance they need to reintegrate into the world of work. Company: The Old Moat Garden Centre & Café Contact: Joy Ridley Website: www.theoldmoatgardencentre.org.uk people who use the organisation’s services to be actively involved in the operations of The Old Moat, assisted by a team of 30 invaluable volunteers. Together, they provide a diverse selection of gifts, plants and gardening tools that delight and entice shoppers. By combining retail with wellbeing services The Old Moat is able to offer beneficial, practical support to those with mental health problems and help them to gain hands-on experience working in a retail environment. The Old Moat’s quirky, dog-friendly café allows service users to gain experience in the hospitality and food services sectors and offers customers the chance to sample delicious fresh treats. Currently, The Old Moat supports more than 50 people on their recovery journeys, providing vital “The Old Moat is able to offer beneficial, practical support to those with mental health problems and help them to gain hands-on experience working in a retail environment.”