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Cherry Tree Nursery is the first project of the registered charity the Sheltered Work Opportunities Project (SWOP)
The charity was set up to provide sheltered work rehabilitation, in a supportive but realistic working environment, for people with severe and enduring mental illness. There is no upper age limit or restrictions on the time that people can stay at SWOP. The charity’s aim is to create a loving community for people who often feel frightened, lonely, isolated and powerless.
Cherry Tree Nursery produces more than 100,000 high quality garden plants every year and is well-known in the local community for its friendly atmosphere.
Our volunteers find the nursery a safe and non-threatening place to work, where they can receive support from staff, gain strength from developing friendships with each other, share problems and experiences, and build social networks through working together.
There are many different types of work available, all of which contribute to the running of the nursery and to the strengthening of a mutually self-supporting community. Confidence is boosted through the knowledge that all play a part in keeping a thriving, popular and successful nursery project running.
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Volunteers benefit greatly from having purpose, meaning and structure in their lives, a crucial step in restoring self-esteem and dignity.
The Sheltered Work Opportunities Project is a registered charity (No 900325) and a company limited by guarantee (No 2449757). The charity currently has two projects, Cherry Tree Nursery in Bournemouth, established in 1990, and Chestnut Nursery in Poole, established in 2001.
The charity was set up to:
- address an identified need for meaningful occupation in a supportive and pressure-free environment, for adults with severe and enduring mental illness.
- endeavour to reduce stigma and discrimination by increasing public awareness of mental illness.
Through the use of therapeutic horticulture, the charity aims to restore mental well-being, and give purpose to people’s lives.A board of Trustees meet quarterly, and submit annual returns to the Charity Commission and Companies House.The day-to-day running of the nursery is overseen by a
Management Committee of nursery volunteers and a staff
representative.All nursery volunteers can attend a management meeting if they wish, or call a family meeting to discuss any issues they are concerned about. |
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Trustees of SWOP
Martin Stewart, Chair/Secretary
Mrs Sheila Carson
Cllr Ben Grower, FCA
Mrs June M Wood, BSc, SROT
Treasurer: Mrs Ruth Markham, BA, FCA
Patrons of SWOP
Bill Bailey
Richard Drax
Sir Stephen Hammick, OBE, Bart,
The Baroness Maddock |
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