Growing Better Cic

Growing Better is a social enterprise aimed at improving mental health through urban farming. We support and advocate for people facing mental health challenges by providing social and work opportunities in a successful social enterprise that everyone can take pride in contributing to. Several of our team have lived experience of mental health problems and so have first hand experience of how hard it can be to stay in or get back into work. One of the most important things we've learned through our work is that mental health issues are often part of a more complex set of challenges such as social and work exclusion, lack of confidence, and poverty - and they reinforce each other resulting in a downward spiral that is incredibly hard to break. As a result we've shifted our focus from providing a therapeutic environment to a more practical focus on reducing social isolation, and building confidence and skills which will help reverse the downward spiral and lead to employment and social integration. In 2016 we successfully grew baby salad leaves and herbs in polytunnels, and established a great local reputation. However, we want to be able to support our service users all year round - but we can't grow all year round, and that's the main driver behind our currenr buusiness model - growing micro greens hydroponically in an indoor vertical farm. We've been growing commercially - at a small scale - since January 2018, supplying restaurants and caterer in Leeds City Centre and suburbs. On a broader level, as urban farmers we contribute to the sustainable, local and independent food ecosystem that is developing very quickly across Yorkshire, reducing food miles, supporting micro-farming and encouraging healthy eating.