FUNDRASIERS come together to improve garden at mental health recovery unit.

The garden at Shepherd House mental health recovery unit was officially re-opened following a refurbishment funded by the Friends of Worthing Hospitals, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Heads On, the Trust’s charity, thanks to fundraising from NHS mental health staff who work at the centre.

The £17,000 refurbishment includes landscaping the garden, new planters, sensory planting, new seating areas and an allotment area.

The work was done to make the garden more therapeutic and calming after feedback from patients, who often stay at the unit for around 12 months as part of their mental health recovery.

Sarah Cramp, Modern Matron at Shepherd House said: “At Shepherd House we support people who have experienced psychosis.

“When people come to us they have usually had a relatively long stay in hospital and limited contact with nature and the outdoors.

“The new garden offers us a fantastic opportunity to support people to enjoy nature again, taking pleasure in things like the seasons and enjoying the outdoors in ways it is easy to take for granted.

“Thank you so much to the Friends of Worthing Hospital and Heads On for their support of the garden.

“We are absolutely delighted to name the garden the Pat Roberts Memorial Garden in honour of Pat, a member of the Friends who was fiercely passionate about mental health and a loyal supporter of Shepherd House for many years.”

Pat Roberts’ husband Malcolm Roberts, also a member of the Friends of Worthing Hospital, officially opened the new garden alongside Shepherd House staff and service users.

Malcolm said: “I am delighted to open the garden today on behalf of my family in Pat’s memory and I know the new layout is very much appreciated.

“Pat was a dedicated and tireless supporter of mental health in our community and she is sorely missed by us all.”

Shepherd House staff continues to fundraise to improve the garden further and are hoping to purchase a shed next.

To make a donation to the unit please visit www.headsoncharity.org/donate

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides NHS mental health, specialist learning disability and prison healthcare services across and beyond Sussex.

Shepherd House is the Trust’s rehabilitation unit in Worthing for people recovering from psychosis.

Heads On is the charity for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, raising funds to enhance NHS mental health care.

The Friends of Worthing Hospitals formed in 1949 working for the benefit of patients, relatives and staff in Worthing Hospitals.

They provide medical equipment and non-medical items such as re-furbishing wards and departments to enhance patients’ care, comfort and stay in local NHS health care hospitals.

Funding is mainly from bequests, donations, shop/ cafeteria, members’ subscriptions and fund raising.

The trustees conduct the administration of the charity.

Shop staff and volunteers provide the ‘hands on’ support to run the successful shop and cafeteria in Worthing Hospital.

You can send a cheque payable to “The Friends of Worthing Hospitals,” Worthing Hospital, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing BN11 2DH.

Every donation is very much appreciated and helps the charity to provide the much needed equipment and services for the hospitals it supports, which due to the current financial restraints cannot always be provided by the NHS.

A spokesman said: “We do not have any paid fundraisers.

“We are a local charity for local people.

“Please help us to make your local hospital special.”