"It's going to keep this project running, which is worth £75,000 from the People's Postcode Lottery," said a charity supporting people with gardening for their mental health. In Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, seven people will each pocket a share of £1 million prize—£142,857 each on average—meanwhile, the awards will be distributed among local charities by the Postcode Community Trust.
One of the charities is Trust Links, in Westcliff, Southend-on-Sea, which operates gardening projects for therapeutic purposes in the members' efforts toward their mental health. "It's completely out of the blue. We're so delighted. It makes such a difference to our community to get funding like this," said Matt King, chief executive officer of Trust Links.
"All of it is able to keep the project going as costs keep escalating. Costs have increased, then tax is higher. The cost for us is higher as an organization, and the demand is up for services." More than 4 thousand were supported by the charity last year, to include nearly 200 volunteers, he said.
"People usually come when they are feeling suicidal and struggling—depressed and forlorn. Very soon we connect them and return their wellbeing and mental health." Mr. King also noted that they had more than a thousand people on the waiting list hoping to receive the services but had no chance due to insufficient resources.
Alex Butler, 47 and suffering from bipolar disorder, became a service user at Trust Links after being rendered jobless in 2014. He said, "I ended up at Trust Links because I knew I needed some sort of therapy. My whole life changed when I was there." I got to know people. I basically rebuilt my life again." Mr. Butler did gardening courses provided by the charity, and he later secured a job as a gardener. "I find it so therapeutic, and so, it's not just about gardening. They do woodwork, a music group," he said.
"This is the kind of funding that really matters to keep us going."