Andrew Howell has been appointed as a governor of the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which looks after the mental health care provisions across the county. He will be representing the West constituency which includes Newquay.
As a governor Andrew will oversee and provide accountability to The Trust whilst they make decisions that will affect Newquay residents and NHS service users. He will be supporting the organisation in their decisions, good practice, governance and a wide range of other aspects.
This is a voluntary role as Andrew works full time at Newquay Orchard as a change coach. He is passionate about carrying the values he upholds at the community orchard into this new governor role. He said: “I want to highlight the benefits of spending time outdoors, moving and being a part of a community and how this can positively impact a person’s mental health. Nature prescription isn’t a recognised form of therapy in the UK however working with GP’s and social prescribers I think we can raise the awareness of this holistic-based therapy; taking advantage of the great resources we have all around us”
“I hope in this new role we can identify how the mental health crisis we are experiencing in Cornwall now can be helped by a renewed connection to the outdoors with nature therapy. To get people outside, before the need for medical intervention, will promote healthier lifestyles and relieve financial pressures on the NHS,” he added.
Newquay Orchard have long extolled the health benefits of horticulture and community participation with 96% of their volunteers reporting improvements in mental health and 98% reporting improved physical health. Read more about our impact.
More recently the community garden has highlighted the benefit of nature connection through their campaign In Our Nature which saw an event hosting social prescribers from across Cornwall as well as messaging to promote Newquay Orchard as a place where anyone can find help, support or a community of like minded people. Watch a video that explains In Our Nature.
Newquay Orchard is working in partnership with organisations across Cornwall as a part of the Cornwall Council and Volunteer Cornwall Injection of Nature campaign. Other locations running schemes similar to that of Newquay Orchard include; The Eden Project, Battling On, Volunteer Cornwall, CHAOS Farm, Nature Connects and Cornwall Wildlife Trust.