Sussex charity which supports veterans receives grant from CLA Charitable Trust
Veterans’ Growth awarded thousands to help run horticultural therapy sessions
A charity in Sussex which supports veterans with mental health issues has been awarded £3,000 from the CLA Charitable Trust (CLACT) to help run horticultural therapy sessions.
The trust is funded almost entirely by subscriptions and donations from members of the CLA, an organisation which represents nearly 30,000 farmers, landowners and rural businesses.
It provides grants to charities and community organisations who share its vision to help connect people who are disabled or disadvantaged with the countryside and nature.
Veterans’ Growth, based at Rocks Farm Oast near Westfield, East Sussex, is among the groups to successfully apply for funding in the most recent round of awards. Set up in 2018, it supports British Armed Forces veterans with mental health problems and is already putting the grant to good use, buying equipment and materials to provide face-to-face horticultural therapy services.
Horticultural therapy has proven benefits for those dealing with mental health issues and the aim of Veterans’ Growth is to provide a complimentary therapy which can support other forms of treatment. Veterans benefit from being outdoors in a green environment, being physically active, interacting with the local community and each other, learning about nutrition through the growing of food and learning new skills with the possibility of using these to gain employment.
CEO Jason Stevens said: “The CLA grant will continue to make a positive change to our organisation and has already started to have an impact upon the activities open to veterans.
“We are extremely grateful for this donation.”
Bridget Biddell, Chairman of CLACT, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Veterans’ Growth in running its horticultural therapy sessions.
“The work of the charity is inspiring. Being outdoors and working in, and learning about, horticulture has such a positive impact on military veterans needing support. Thank you Veterans’ Growth, your charity is doing amazing work.”