A TEAM from a mental health charity welcomed volunteers from all backgrounds to help get their well-being garden ready for planting.
National mental health charity Mind chose the Furness branch to be the proud recipients of the 'Mind Garden', which was exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show as part of Project Giving Back.
Planting is currently underway following the digging and levelling of the patch of land and volunteers from the area got hard at work helping to get it ready.
Among the first to offer were temporary visitors from Iran, Ethiopia and Eritrea who were joined by neighbours, people who attend Mind in Furness, Love Barrow Families, Dads group, local councillors and volunteers from Furness Young Labour.
Michael Cassells, a community engagement worker at Mind in Furness, said: "Mind in Furness welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and are keen that our garden is a place for people to come together.
"Some of the first people to offer to help take care of the Mind Garden were some young men new to Barrow. Asylum Seekers are forbidden from doing paid work or receiving benefits. Volunteering is an excellent way to improve your own mental health by helping others and staying active. "
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"We also gave local residents a hand clearing their backstreet. It’s great that our garden has given our neighbours some encouragement to improve their area.
"Please get in touch with us if you or your organisation would like to join in on our many gardening and conservation eco-projects. Thanks to everyone who helped."
A 24-year-old volunteer from Iran said: “We volunteered to help the development of the urban space through the small garden that Mind in Furness built, and secondly, to be able to change people's view and thinking towards foreigners and refugees.
"I hope this has made people get to know us more and that the only thing that matters is humanity and helping human life."
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