What parents say …

We regularly ask our parents for feedback …

“When my son started attending sessions at Green Hub he was showing a high level of anxiety and low self-esteem which was was affecting his daily life. He really didn’t like going out on his own, not even to the shops for essentials, and we were worried about how he would cope at college and getting the train when he started after the summer.

“We really tried to encourage him to be more independent, for example, by taking him on the train to meet his friends in the next village and travelled with him a couple of times before he got the train on his own. But he was still anxious to go by himself and found reasons for not going out. After a couple of months of attending sessions of Psychotherapy, we didn’t see any progress, that’s why we started looking for alternatives. we were extremely lucky to find Green Hub!

“Once he started the sessions, he told us “All the people were very nice, and if you messed up, you don’t feel pressure”. 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!

“Longer term, he independently wrote a CV and started applying for jobs and sending emails. He went for a job interview and was asked back for a probation day – he got the job, we were so proud. He works in a traditional Cobblers shop, where one of his main tasks is to talk to customers – the other day we walked passed the window and saw him looking proud and happy! He appears much more confident, doing well at college, and going out with his friends more often.” Parent

“My daughter was struggling with low self esteem, some anxiety, social isolation, and she had also been bullied. This had the result that she felt uncomfortable mixing with other young people and just being herself.  
 
“When she started at the Green Hub teen garden, she LOVED the sessions! She is not very sporty and usually needs some persuading to go outside but couldn’t wait for the next Green Hub session, whatever the weather.
 
“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.
 
“Being with other teens who are struggling was reassuring for her. She didn’t feel quite so alone/ isolated/ like an outcast. The wholesomeness of the Green Hub horticultural therapeutic process and spending time with the animals was a reminder of the benefits of getting outside – for example, she’s now much more open to going for walks. 
 
“The Green Hub has helped her reframe her situation. She realises that there are toxic, broken, dysfunctional elements to our way of life, to mainstream society/ culture – and that it’s not that she’s a ‘freak’. We’re eternally grateful to each and every volunteer who made her feel welcomed, valued and worthy. A huge thank you!”   Parent

“Before my son joined the Green Hub, he was struggling with depression and anxiety. He had ASD and ADHD and was having great difficulty socially, as well as low mood and low self-esteem – he had been put on anti depressants by the GP. The impact was that he was having difficulties with socialising, communicating and knowing what to say to people. He was refusing to engage with people, as he didn’t feel up to it.

“Once he joined the Green Hub programme, he was happy to go to the sessions, which for him is highly unusual as he usually refuses to engage with anything new or new people. After the sessions, he seemed more relaxed – he was proud of the things he grew and brought home (especially proud of the pumpkin he carved). As a result, he is now no longer taking anti-depressants. He still has his ups and downs, but has the satisfaction of knowing that he stuck with something for 12 weeks and gave it his full commitment. He has began talking to one or two people again.

“Everything the Green Hub has done is perfect and greatly appreciated – a very positive influence. 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. The weekly sessions, at 90 minutes long, were the perfect length as he tires quickly.” Parent

“Before joining the Green Hub, my teenager was struggling with confidence and social interaction. This had a big impact on her ability to go out, socialising, making friends and getting a part time job. 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. She has successfully started a part time job in retail and is much better able to chat with her teachers and other adults. Everything has been fabulous, I sing Green Hub’s praises all the time – so many people I know wish they had something like it local to them, we’re very lucky to have you. Thank you so much.” Parent

“My daughter was struggling with anxiety and mixing with people outside the family, meaning that she couldn’t attend school and didn’t like going out much. She found the Green Hub Teen Garden hard at first but she gradually got more confident – she would come out feeling proud of the things she had done and the things that were growing. One big bonus is that she has a new-found love of gardening and the outdoors, plus she is also a bit more confident to speak to people she doesn’t know.  The Green Hub is such an amazing place. Parent”

“Before he started with Green Hub, my son was struggling with anxiety, exam worries and panic attacks and was reluctant to go outside and meet with friends. He also began to have an issue with concentrating in exams. At first he was reluctant to go to the sessions but then began to look forward to working in the garden – he came back from each session a different person, shoulders lifted and sharing what had been achieved in the garden. Overall he now has more focus and is calm with more ability to self-manage his stress. Please continue what The Green Hub is doing – it has helped my son hugely.” Parent

“My daughter was struggling with anxiety and depression which meant she found it difficult meeting new people and trusting them. She really enjoyed the sessions – she loved being in the garden and chatting with the volunteer co-ordinators. She has become more relaxed, calmer and more outgoing in the time she has been part of Green Hub. There have been other interventions in this time and coming to the Garden has definitely been a positive experience. Everything about the actual garden was just perfect and she loved seeing how it developed.” Parent

“My daughter was struggling with an eating disorder plus low mood, which stopped her being able to play sport and do PE at school. Overall she became moody and withdrawn. She really enjoyed the Green Hub sessions and looked forward to going each week. She got on really well with the other teenagers and came out happy, which was really good to see. She is now starting to recover from the eating disorder – it’s slow progress but she is definitely eating more and has started to put on weight.”   Parent

“My son was struggling with controlling his emotions and would vary between anger and crying. He just kept telling us to just leave him alone. At times he would punch the punchbag strongly or just bounce angrily on the trampoline until he physically couldn’t bounce anymore.

“He has really enjoyed the Green Hub sessions and looked forward to each Saturday. When he came home, he seemed at peace, settled, content, happy and relaxed. He now appears to be in a much better place mentally, noted by his peers too. He’s calmer and emotionally much more stable. He is delighted to become a Teen Mentor and Teen Ambassador for Green Hub.  There’s nothing I would change about the process – it was brilliant.   Parent

“My daughter was anxious to begin with – it took time to get the confidence to get out of the car to the first session but, by the end of the session, she was so happy she’d joined, she told me that she’d spoken to more new people than she had done for ages. It has really helped with the transition from school to 6th form – in fact, she has gained so much confidence that she is now keen to find a job. As she now knows the benefits of the garden, as a safe, supportive and calm space, she is happy to come back to help Green Hub as a Teen Ambassador and Mentor. It has made such a difference to her – I could not have asked for more.”   Parent