Trust Links: local mental health charity in South East Essex.
Trust Links
Trust Links is a local independent mental health and wellbeing charity in South East Essex.
The main projects run by Trust Links are:
- Growing Together community gardens in Westcliff, Thundersley, Shoeburyness and Rochford
- REACH Recovery College
- Southend Carers support
- St Laurence Orchard
Trust Links also runs a number of community events each year including Wassailing, Seed Potato Day, May Fayre, Apple Day and Christmas Fayre.
Growing Together
The Growing Together Westcliff project is a one acre community garden on the corner of Fairfax Drive and Prittlewell Chase. In 2000 Trust Links took over the abandoned allotment land from the Council and turned it into a community garden and has worked with more than 1,000 adults with mental health problems and mild learning disabilities.
Growing Together members enjoy a range of activities including garden maintenance, art, music, yoga relaxation, employment support, vocational training, cooking and woodwork.
Growing Together Shoeburyness was launched in 2013 and now includes two polytunnels, a log cabin, wildlife pond and outdoor classroom.
Growing Together Thundersley is a third of an acre, situated at the back of the Castle Point Borough Council complex. The garden includes raised beds, which are accessible to people with disabilities.
In Rochford, we run a Growing Together day on a Friday to maintain and develop the grounds of 34 Rocheway.
Trust Links welcomes applications from people with mental health issues to become members of the project, and applications from people volunteering as member support.
Trust Links also runs projects and activities for children and young people including the Dig It Youth Group at Shoeburyness, Rochford Youth Group, and activities for early years children and their families at Growing Together Shoeburyness in the summer.
REACH Recovery College
Launched in 2017, REACH stands for Recovery, Empowerment, Achievement, Community and Hope – the principles of the College. REACH is a partnership of local mental health and community agencies providing training, workshops and peer support opportunities throughout Southend, Castle Point and Rochford. The aim of REACH is to prevent, reduce and delay the use of clinical mental health services by empowering and enabling people to improve their own wellbeing.
Adults with mental health problems in the area are encouraged to enrol as a student.
Carers
Trust Links runs projects for unpaid carers in Southend-on-Sea in partnership with a range of other agencies as part of the Southend Carers Hub. Trust Links provides counselling, listening support and a range of peer support groups such as a walking group, carers café and a meditation group. Carers say that the project helps reduce isolation and worry, enabling them to care for their loved one and also better care for themselves.
Any unpaid carer in Southend Borough is eligible for the project, which can be accessed via the Southend Carers Hub.
St Laurence Orchard
Trust Links maintains the historic one acre St Laurence Orchard on behalf of Southend Council. Through regular monthly work parties, the trees are cared for and paths cleared, ready for the annual Wassailing and Apple Day events. The public are welcome to come along and help at the Work Parties.
At Trust Links we work together to improve mental health and wellbeing and promote wellness and sustainable living.
Trust Links is a local charity that aims to support people and build communities. Established in 2000, we are funded from a range of sources and welcome donations and partnership opportunities.
Contact Trust Links:
Trust Links
Growing Together Westcliff
47 Fairfax Drive
Westcliff-on-Sea
Essex SS0 9AG
Telephone 01702 213134
email: office@trustlinks.org
www.trustlinks.org
Company Limited by Guarantee 4351216
Registered Charity No. 1092324
Information updated March 2018