Promoting mental wellbeing in teenagers
The Green Hub Project for Teens is a local community charity serving residents of Godalming, Milford and Witley, along with the broader Waverley and Surrey areas. We support teenagers and their families / carers facing SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) challenges.
We started the project in July 2021, and have already made a significant impact in the work that we do.
Our weekly Green Teens garden programme runs FOUR FREE sessions across our TWO locations, giving stressed, anxious and neuro-diverse teens the chance to experience the calming effect of nature, benefiting their mental wellbeing.- Each month we run TWO sessions: Parent Hub and Parent Hub Online, to help parents supporting a child with SEMH challenges.
- Our Teen Talks team deliver empowering talks to teens, helping them to develop the life skills to help them develop resilience and strategies to handles life’s challenges – public courses and in schools.
- Our FREE Life Skills for Teens programme is an 8-week online course to support teens with their mental wellbeing; launched in February 2024, it has already been followed by 100 local teens.
- We deliver valuable FREE resources and advice to parents and teens, via our website Online Help.
Thank you
We are so grateful for all the amazing Volunteers that support Green Hub, and the fantastic work they are doing in the community. If you, or your teen, is struggling due to teen mental health, please do contact us as we will do all that we can to support you.
Vanessa Lanham-Day & Tone Tellefsen Hughes
Co-Founders of the Green Hub Project for Teens
Take a look at our amazing Teen Gardens …
What people say about the Green Hub…
The relaxed outdoor environment with no pressure was exactly the right thing for my son and he got a lot out of coming. He was able to be himself and relax in a very calming environment surrounded by nature and others who have similar difficulties.
“Working in the garden is one of the best parts of the week. It’s such a calming and friendly place to just spend a few hours being in nature and forgetting about worries and stresses. The adult volunteers couldn’t be kinder and the garden is the perfect place to just take a moment and relax.”
He loved the Arts and crafts and all the plants and he loved taking things home – his favourite thing were the pumpkins. After the sessions he was calm, content and even more chatty in the car on the way back! He told us that Green Hub helped him move forward, and even look for a Saturday job, which he now has!
“Struggling with mental health isn’t as bad as it could be when you have someone to talk to and are doing something constructive. Doing something like gardening really helps, especially because there are people who know how to help you.You’ll be surprised as to what you can achieve.”
“I love coming to the garden as it is an amazing place to go and clear your head and have fun. Plus you get to meet new people which is always a bonus.”
“It’s a step away from everything outside of here. The quiet of the garden, the trees … it’s a peaceful haven.”
She found the sessions fun and enjoyable; she said they were really helpful, friendly, warm and comforting – a great mix of gardening, nature and arts & crafts. She certainly came home happy and energised. Over the longer term, her confidence and ability to interact in groups has increased enormously.
“It’s very rewarding to be working in the Green Hub Teen Garden where you can enjoy nature and fresh air.”
There was a contentment about her. She seemed at ease and loved recounting the day’s tasks. There was a sense of accomplishment and an air of excitement, even, about the projects they were working on. She adored the creativity and learnt a lot. The variety of tasks were incredibly immersive. She could lose herself and be completely present – and, importantly, she could be herself.
Latest news and articles…
Family dynamics and the struggling teen
At the Green Hub we are constantly looking to offer our families more support and information, and we had the honour of interviewing Karin Backa Sigrell from Sweden in February about her work as [...]
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If you have a friend or loved one with ADHD and would like to understand them better, one of the first things to remember is that their brains don't work in the same way [...]
Mayor’s Volunteer Award 2024
We are incredibly proud of Vanessa, our co-chair and co-founder, who last night was awarded the Mayor’s Volunteer Award at a small ceremony in Godalming. The award is given to local people in recognition [...]
