Gardeners

Bridewell Organic Gardens aims to promote the mental and emotional wellbeing of adults who are affected by a range of mental health difficulties. Self-esteem is fostered through being welcomed, accepted and respected, working alongside each other on an equal footing where everyone's participation in planning and production is both invited and valued. Self-confidence is developed through the day to day practice of existing social and work skills, sharing knowledge with each other and acquiring new skills in horticulture, willowwork, bee-keeping, blacksmithing, viniculture, etc.

Service users coming to Bridewell, even if horticulture is not their main interest, must be between eighteen and sixty-five years of age and suffer from a mental health problem.

We are open from 10.00am to 3.00pm every weekday. Tuesday is our Women Only Day (see below).

Minibus transport is available from Waitrose car park in the centre of Witney, leaving at 9.45am. The drop-off point for return is outside the Methodist Church in Witney High Street at approximately 3.15-3.30pm. Other Gardeners arrive by private transport or have been able to make arrangements using Volunteer Link-up.

Facilities include a small kitchen, where tea and coffee-making facilities are available for use during the day and a rest room. We do not have, and hardly miss, mains electricity. Tea and coffee are provided free of charge but gardeners are asked to bring any food that they require during the day.

At Bridewell we strive to create a peaceful environment, working in harmony with nature and each other whenever possible.

The overriding principle of Bridewell is that through working together, both physically and mentally, we will improve the quality of life for the people that come here. While working at Bridewell gardeners are able to take home surplus fruit and vegetables that we grow.

If gardeners know that they are not coming on their usual day they are asked to let us know so that we can plan accordingly.

Gardeners also need to bring suitable boots (e.g. wellingtons), waterproof clothing for wet days and need to make sure that their anti-tetanus jabs are up to date.

At Bridewell we have volunteer workers who are here to help and encourage people coming to the garden. Some will have specialist knowledge of the work going on (e.g. beekeeping) whilst others will help in a more general way.

At the end of each day the staff at Bridewell will meet to discuss how the day has gone, to ensure that all gardeners have received appropriate support during the session and to plan for the next day. The staff of Bridewell may liaise with key-workers or main carers if the need arises but other than that complete confidentiality is maintained.

Approximately once a month we have a 'Garden Meeting' which everyone is encouraged to attend if they wish. The meeting is to talk through plans for the garden and to try to make sure we all know what is going on. We rotate the day of the week that these meetings are held on.

In addition we have a service user advisory group that meets regularly with the management team to discuss longer term issues at Bridewell. This group comprises service users who are elected to represent the users from each of our days

Women Only Days

Since 2004 we have held Women Only Days for women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.

In over ten years of operation we have had many female clients whose mental health difficulties have arisen from their childhood abuse experience. A significant number of these have not felt able to remain at Bridewell for any length of time because they have found the mixed sex environment too uncomfortable. In response to this we have raised funds to allocate a specific day to supporting these women.

The Women Only Day is on Tuesdays from 10 am - 3 pm. Gardeners are able to participate in a variety of activities as on other days. The day is staffed by an all women group, supported by women volunteers. The funding has been obtained from grant making trusts and there are no referral restrictions other than gardeners must be women survivors.

Women can refer themselves or be referred by another agency or key person working with them. The service is free and is open to anyone within reasonable travelling distance.

Referral packs are available on request or you can download a Women Only application form (567KB) and Monitoring form (423KB).

If you would like to discuss any aspect of referral with us please ring us. Messages can be left on the office answer phone if there is nobody there. One of us will call you back as soon as we can. Please note some of our male staff may answer the phone but you can ask to speak to a woman if you prefer.