THE Growing Well charity, based at Low Sizergh Farm, has won £10,000 from NHS Cumbria to provide specialist help for people with mental health issues.

The organisation, which delivers therapy through organic farming, received the cash from the county’s clinical commissioning group for South Lakeland to help it develop a pilot programme to enable GPs to refer patients to the social enterprise – and already more than 17 GP practices including 11 in South Lakeland have sent patients there.

Of the 61 people who started a placement at Growing Well, seven went on to attain paid work, three found voluntary work, one has joined a community project and five people have gained formal qualifications.