Our Stories:
Meet Lisa

“I attend an allotment group at St Mary’s Rooftop Garden in Chapeltown. It’s in the centre of some houses and it’s so quiet. You don’t get people walking by because it’s on a roof, so it’s just a place to just be. 

I originally got involved because I was in a mental health group, and that was finishing up. I was asked if I wanted to do something else, what about doing some gardening? I’m like, ‘I couldn’t look after a cactus’! 

I went to one session, once a week, which was back in 2016. I started going to a Leeds Mind group at TCV and that’s where I met Claire from Hyde Park Source On days when I couldn’t go because I was just not well enough, mentally, she’d say, ‘It’s ok, just make sure you’re okay and if you can come to the next one, that’s fine, I’ll look forward to seeing you’. And that was enough. She didn’t have to physically do anything to know she cared if I was there or not. 

Before I came here I would go everywhere with my hood up, would not speak to anyone, would not keep eye contact with anyone. I was always frightened of being attacked. 

There are days when you see someone else in the group that’s struggling and by going over to help them out, you help yourself out. Because you’re so focused on helping them get through what they’re going through, that you don’t really think about what you’re going through and then you think ‘Wait a minute, what was I upset about?’. 

I absolutely love it here.” 

Hyde Park Source work with local communities to improve their surroundings, designing and creating attractive, exciting, safe and useful places for people to live, work and play. Their activities help to improve people’s health and wellbeing, skills and knowledge, and connection with their communities. They’ve received a range of funding from Leeds Community Foundation, including grants for children’s holiday activities and the organisation’s strategic development.  

If you want to play your part in supporting brilliant local Community Organisations like Hyde Park Source, learn how you can support us, or reach out at info@leedscf.org.uk.