Scroll down to read all about the projects in this region or click on the project you are interested in.
| Name | Area | Award amount |
| Can Do Crew |
Ross-On-Wye |
£17,731 |
| Open Activities Work | Birmingham | £18,628 |
| A Breath of Fresh Air | Leek |
£19,840 |
| On the Way | Shrewsbury |
£19,911 |
| Seeds of Change – Metamorphosis | Stratford-upon-Avon, Studley Warwickshire |
£19,940 |
| Mindful Green | Stoke-on-Trent |
£19,942 |
| Green Dreams | Warwickshire wide | £19,984 |
| Growing Hearts and Minds | Stoke on Trent |
£49,874 |
| Healthy Places, Healthy People | Knowle |
£59,925 |
| The Meeting of Minds Empowerment Project | Ludlow |
£149,142 |
| Greener Future | Birmingham |
£149,930 |
Run by: EnviroAbility
Area: Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire
Our Eocminds grant will allow us to enable people who have or have had mental health difficulties to engage in practical environmental work in local communities. Working with local Mind associations, mental health teams and local GPs we are recruiting volunteers on a weekly basis
Activities will include garden maintenance and clearance, footpath maintenance and improvements for local Parish Councils.
By participating, volunteers will improve health, increase their motivation, social skills, and self esteem. The work is valued by local communities, and thier interaction with volunteers will help decrease the stigma of mental health problems.
We accept referrals from GPs, local Mind associations and mental health teams. For more information, call Jane on 07581480244 or visit our website.
Run by: Aquarius
Area: Finchley Park, Birmingham B44 0QN, and Warren Farm, Birmingham B44 0EW.
Open Activities is a brand new project set up by Aquarius, a charity working in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area, providing support and opportunities to young people. We operate in two main areas of Birmingham, Finchley Park and Warren Farm in Kingstanding.
Young people who get involved with the project will find a friendly, informal and fun environment, providing many outdoor activities and opportunities to get involved in their local communities as a volunteer. It’s a great way to make new friends, develop new interests and have a positive impact on their local environment and the communities in which they live.
The Ecominds grant has enabled us to employ a member of staff to reach out and engage young people, who would not normally have the opportunities or resources to access outdoor activities in the widest possible sense, to benefit from being part of a very dynamic team. We aim to help young people to help themselves, by exploring new interests, developing new and existing skills and having a good time.
Through our experienced Erdington Community Project Team, one to one support will be available to every participant, enabling them to address their own individual challenges and barriers, providing practical and emotional support, encouragement and helping them to nurture a positive ‘Can Do’ attitude to life.
To find out more please ring 0121 622 8188 and ask for Cole Ward, who will be able to provide information about the new ‘Open Activities’ in Erdington programme.
Run by: Borderland Voices
Area: Leek, ST13 6QF
A Breath of Fresh Air promises lots of exciting opportunities for people with or without mental health issues to work together. Professional artists and craftspeople will lead environmental and art sessions in the town and countryside with the aim to create permanent and semi-permanent artworks to liven up the area.
You don’t need to be ‘arty’ to get involved - urban and rural landscapes, and interesting topics such as ‘natural and recycled materials’ or ‘food for free’ should inspire all sorts of art. This could be creative writing, painting, photography, sculpture, jewellery, drama, textiles, lanterns and more.
To get even more inspiration and exercise, groups of participants may go walking to look at trees and the scenery, find wild flowers or join a lantern parade.
To showcase the artwork of participants and to and celebrate local creativity, our work will be displayed at major public events in Leek and the Moorlands and we will also have a small travelling exhibition. These exhibitions of work will show how people with experience of mental distress contribute to a rich community life.
The project runs from April 2011 to March 2012 - please join us if you can.
You don’t need a referral, just turn up and enjoy whatever’s going on.
Details of all forthcoming events appear in the monthly newsletter which is posted on our website www.borderlandvoices.org.uk However if you like more information do give us a call on 01538 384142 or email andy@borderlandvoices.org.uk
Run by: Shropshire Mind
Area: Shrewsbury SY2 6BL
Shropshire Mind provide quality services for people experiencing mental or emotional distress, raise awareness of mental health issues, and help to bridge the gap between illness and full independence. On the way will support a number of our service users to research and produce an introductory guide for the Shropshire Way, this will be available in both hard copy and MP3 download formats.
To produce the guide, service users will visit and walk various sections of the Shropshire Way to identify flora, fauna and places of interest. This activity will be combined with research from the internet, library and talking to local organisations such as history groups, ramblers, wildlife trust, and rights of way staff.
All of this information will be brought together by service users and produced in conjunction with a professional design company. In addition to the guide our service users will record accompanying audio tracks for walkers to download and listen to while they are out on the Shropshire Way enjoying thier guide.
We aim to build the confidence and provide training opportunities for our service users, enabling them to learn new or develop existing skills, including photography, design, drawing, IT skills, research and use of the internet.
Please call 01743 368647 or visit our website www.shropshiremind.org
Run by: Escape: Community Art in Action
Area: Stratford-upon-Avon, Studley, Warwickshire CV37 6RN
Seeds of Change ‘Metamorphosis’ ran a series of dynamic and contemporary art projects that engaged disadvantaged sections of the community in an integrated setting, using ‘metamorphosis’ as a metaphor for the impact of creativity on peoples lives.
Using the participatory arts as a powerful tool for individual and community change the project will delivered a series of innovative high quality 'metamorphosis' installations and exhibitions to challenge perceptions.
The project provided a forum to share good practise, challenge mental health perceptions, and promote/celebrate diversity.
We had a great time building and designing the willow and wood sculptures, the work was quite physical but worth every minute. Service user
Our Ecominds work has now concluded. To find out more about our other activities, call Karen Jones 01789 293615, or visit our website.
Run by: Groundwork West Midlands (Stoke & Staffordshire)
Area: Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1EB
Mindful Green is delivering a 12 month programme of outdoor activities, encouraging service users to make use of and benefit from the local natural environment. We will be organising physical activities that introduce services users to green spaces and wildlife on their door step. To help service users build up social contact we will also invite local resident associations, ramblers groups etc to come and join us.
In addition to the activities which we coordinate, we will also integrate our activities with other suitable initiatives on offer by other organisations, such as the healthy walking projects delivered by the Federation of Stadium Communities. This will promote integration and help to reduce the stigma of mental health.
To join our project you need to be referred by one of these agencies; Growthpoint (NHS Funded), Changes (Voluntary organisation for recovery and mental wellbeing), or Midland Heart (Social Registered Landlord).
Run by: Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs (WAYC)
Area: Leamington, Solihul and Nuneaton.
Green Dreams gives young people across Warwickshire, who have or are experiencing emotional or mental distress, a chance to enjoy a beneficial and rewarding learning experience using the outside environment.
For young participants who have experienced things such as bullying, self-harm, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression, it is a chance to discover the therapeutic affects of the outside environment whilst making positive friendships and develop coping strategies. By doing so they will build confidence, increase resilience and be more able to achieve.
There are currently three groups of young people meeting together, getting to know each other and beginning to benefit from being with other young people in a safe, friendly environment in which they can talk openly, share experiences and develop trust. Our aim is to grow these bonds over the next few months to give participants the enriching and rewarding experience that they need and deserve.
Our Ecominds-funded work concluded in July 2011. To find out about our other activities, visit our website www.wayc.org.uk or call 01926 450156, or alternatively, email lee.atkins@wayc.org.uk
Run by: B Arts (Beaver Arts)
Area: Stoke on Trent ST1
Growing Hearts and Minds provides a wide programme of seasonal events and activities. This includes walks, workshops and performances - using photography, music, environmental sculpture, textiles, mixed media, printing and performance.
Participants will create unique outdoor events relevant to the season and open to the public. These give people a positive focus even in the darkest months of the year.
The programme has six professional artists, working within a given season of the programme. Working closely with local residents and mental health service users they provide vibrant, friendly, creative workshops - where people develop new skills at their own pace, connect with nature and their local community.
By combining service users and local residents in community events like this we hope they share positive and creative experiences with the aim to lessen the stigma attached to mental health.
The project runs until December 2011 and is supported by Brighter Futures, Stoke on Trent City Council, Changes, plus various local community groups and schools
Thank you for that, it was a really enjoyable hour and half. Service user
Great to be outside on such a beautiful day… felt inspired. Service user
If you are interested in joining or would like more information please contact B Arts on 01782 717 326, email growingheartsandminds@b-arts.org.uk or visit our website www.growingheartsandminds.org.uk
You can also ask support workers at Brighter Futures mental health support venues (Observatory, Hillcrest Street, City Centre) and at Changes (Charles Street, City Centre) about how to get involved.
Alternatively just turn up to a weekly Wednesday walk, 11am – 12 noon. We meet at the statue at 10.50am, Northwood park, Baskerville Road, Northwood, Nr Hanley, Stoke on Trent ST1 2EB.
Run by: Solihull Mind
Area: Knowle, B93 0PU
Healthy Places, Healthy People are expanding our current present healthy living/horticulture service to include training in environmental/conservation skills thanks to Ecominds funding.
Our project gives participants the chance to take part in many activities - training in horticulture/conservation skills, workshops from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT), work within the local parks departments, and helping to repopulate native bluebells in a local wood.
We will also develop opportunities for people to work alongside the general public on a variety of conservation/environmental activities, helping them to use their new found skills and to broaden social contacts.
We hope these activities will enhance our horticulture/sports site for the benefit of all those who use it and also make a positive difference to our local community.
Contact Solihull Mind directly on 0121 742 4941. You need to live in the borough of Solihull to join.
Run by: Future Health and Social Care Association – Greener Future
Area: Birmingham B1 3RA
Greener Future promotes good physical and mental health for people living with mental distress through active and supported participation in conservation work. Activities involve the maintenance and creation of areas of natural wildlife, including gardens which can be accessed and enjoyed by the whole community - this will include three community garden sites in Birmingham.
All our volunteers will be supported through the project with training, mentoring, and hands-on activities - helping them to acquire and apply their new skills, and to accomplish their project goals.
I needed to get out of the house and do something physical, something where I can use my day properly. I can do that now and I am learning something too. Service user
The project will be delivered in partnership with the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country whose expertise in wildlife and garden management will ensure all volunteers have access to the skills and knowledge to support their personal growth. Greener Future volunteers will also work alongside Wildlife Trust volunteers - this will help reduce stigma and lack of understanding often experienced by people subject to mental distress.
It is very easy to become involved just contact Greener Future on 0121 265 2689 or call Gary on 0789 438 6733.
Run by: South Shropshire Furniture Scheme
Area: Ludlow SY8 1RL
The Meeting of Minds Empowerment Project is project run by South Shropshire Furniture Scheme. We are a dynamic social enterprise and charity with our own carpentry workshop and diverse set of training programmes. We distribute furniture to people in need and help improve the life of the disadvantaged.
With funding from Ecominds we aim to strengthening the support and training for volunteers with mental health issues, providing them with a mentor for one-to-one support and providing a programme of focused (and accredited) work based training e.g. warehousing, customer services, team work, communications.
We hope that many participants will experience an increase in confidence, develop transferable skills, and will progress into employment or training or become mentors themselves.
In addition to this we will also deliver staff mental health training to improve their mental health awareness, and increase their ability to support and empower mental health service users.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and let you know how much I‘ve enjoyed working with all of the team on the project. It has made such a difference. Service user
Visit our website www.furniturescheme.co.uk or call 01584 877751. Referrals can be made through our partner agencies such as Housing Association, CMHT and Enable.