New Roots

New Roots – Branching Out
Funded by Scottish Power

Building on the success of our New Roots project, we continued to work closely with East Midlands Probation Service until June 2025. Funded by Scottish Power Foundation, New Roots – Branching Out aimed to help break the cycle of reoffending by giving people on probation green skills, training and work experience, while reconnecting them with nature and each other to support their mental health. Around 40% of people on people on probation are experiencing a mental illness at any time, but not all of them will be accessing treatment or support.

People on probation helped to transform under-used areas into spaces for people, food production and wildlife, restore the site’s 32 miles of hedgerow and build a wildlife pond. C - who chose to return to St Ann’s as a volunteer after completing their Community Payback hours – told us:

“I grew up in a little village, so I used to be in country fields, down by reservoirs, jumping in lakes. I used to love that stuff. [Volunteering at St Ann’s Allotments] is just something I’d like to do. I like being outside and learning new skills at the same time as being in nature. One of my favourite tasks is tree pruning. When I lived with my Mum, I helped thin out some of the trees a bit to clear our overgrown garden, which I loved doing.”