PEOPLE in Reading have a week to help a charity reach a fundraising target.
The Ridgeline Trust uses horticultural therapy to support those living with mental health or physical difficulties.
The charity has been invited to take part in the Big Give’s Kind2Mind campaign, which means any money it raises during Mental Health Week will be doubled.
Siân Hooley, Ridgeline’s development manager, said: “To celebrate our 20th Anniversary and Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re looking to raise £2,500. In order to access the £2,500 we have in the matching pot, we need to raise the same amount in online donations.
“We hope everyone will give generously to help us reach our target and enable us to carry on the work we all feel so passionately about. We know that our horticultural therapy sessions bring improved mental health and wellbeing to our beneficiaries, and we want to see even more people experience this at Ridgeline.”
Ridgeline supports around 55 people every week at its garden in East Reading. A team of 80 volunteers helps people from all walks of life and ages.
“We work with people as young as 13 and others well into their 80s,” added Siân.
“We use horticulture and being outdoors to enable them to recover and develop their skills, boost their confidence and self-esteem and to enjoy social communication.
“We started in 2003 with a disused paddock made available by Reading Borough Council. The land was transformed into the beautiful garden we have today through the hard work of volunteers who cleared and landscaped the site.
“Our vision is to maximise the use of the garden and our resources to provide professionally led social and therapeutic horticulture across a wide cross section of the community.”
Donations to support Ridgeline need to be made between noon on Monday, May 15, and noon on Monday, May 22. Any amount raised, up to £2,500, will be matched by Big Give which helps charities and special causes around the country.
A special celebration event will be held at Ridgeline’s beautiful garden on Sunday May 21 from 2pm-4.30pm. Entry is free but donations are welcome and there will be plenty of cakes, refreshments and plants to buy, proceeds of which will be added to the fundraising target.
To donate, go to: https://bit.ly/Ridgeline20thAnniversary and make a donation but only between noon on Monday, May 15, and noon Monday, May 22.
