Outdoor buildings firm boosts mental health charity

Bridge the Gap, which supports the mental health of young people, has received a boost after being given their own ‘garden getaway’ thanks to Roundpeg Outdoor Buildings.

Roundpeg has donated one of its buildings to the charity to provide a safe place for young people to get the help they need.

The new building has now taken pride of place in YMCA Derbyshire’s Wilmorton Community Gardens.

As well as providing shelter for the children year-round, the fully insulated building also incorporates a tool shed to enable work on the allotment.

Bridge the Gap helps children explore and understand their emotions in a safe space.

It offers a unique relationship focused, holistic, emotional support service and the new outdoor building will offer another room for the charity to continue helping more young people as demand for its services continues to grow.

Roundpeg was founded by Sallyann Smith and business partner Adam Timmis five years ago.

Sallyann said: “Both Adam and I have loved being able to support Bridge the Gap and it feels great to be able to donate a building to really help with this new project.

“Bridge the Gap really focuses on the needs of the children – they really go above and beyond.

“This will be a nice and safe space for the children, and it fits within its environment.

“There are lots of benefits for children being outside in the fresh air and learning about growing their own food, so this is perfect.

“A lot of children don’t get the chance to go out and just be in the garden.”

The idea started last year when Roundpeg looked at what it could do to help others in the community and approached Bridge the Gap to see if it was interested in one of its outdoor buildings.

Roundpeg started looking at locations with Bridge the Gap. Then they had the idea of putting it on the allotment, which the YMCA had given to the charity a few months before.

Nikki Webster, director of Bridge the Gap, said: “I absolutely love this building. It’s just what we needed. The community gardens allow us to have space outdoors.

“We’re incredibly grateful and it means a lot because we can see how it will help. The kids that are going to come here are vulnerable and many don’t have access to gardens.

“Being outdoors is really beneficial for mental health. There’s a rise in demand as young people are struggling across the city, so this gives us an extra building.”

Matt Taylor, youth and community manager at YMCA Derbyshire, who offered the allotment to Bridge the Gap said: “It is important to teach children more about where food comes from, as well as helping adults and young people with supporting their health.

“We’re here to help and support the community and build people up. We know what Roundpeg has done for Bridge the Gap will help them continue its work supporting young people.”