Ecotherapy With Andy McGeeney

Andy McGeeney is the Psychologist Specialising in Ecotherapy. He visited HUBB to explain his work and to look at promoting the Ecotherapy Projects throughout the NELFT region. Andy will be talking at the HUBB Monthly Meeting on February 4th at ROMFORD BAPTIST CHURCH (Main Road, Romford (Next to ASDA)).



He has a background in psychology, counselling, wildlife conservation, training and development.

His role in the Trust is to:

- Run ecotherapy programmes for service users;
- Conduct research and evaluation of the ecotherapy work;
- Support others who want to use ecotherapy in their work, through mentoring, training and development.
- Tell others about the work we are doing and encourage the wider use of ecotherapy.

An informative leafelt on Andy's work can be downloaded from the HUBB website.
NELFT has been very innovative in introducing Ecotherapy for its users; it fits very well with star wards activities and is empowering for users wishing to improve their quality of life.

The work is being externally evaluated by the University of Essex.

Ecotherapy Activities

The type of activities, by its innovative nature, will shift and change according to circumstances. If you have your own ideas come and talk to Andy. At the moment there are plans to offer:

• Well Being in Nature sessions and workshops

• Walking in Nature sessions 6 week programmes

• Fit n’ Green conservation sessions

• Allotment gardening sessions

• Staff workshops and training programmes

Further information can be obtained by contacting Andy at:

Andy McGeeney
T: 0844 600 1201 x5256
E: andy.mcgeeney@nelft.nhs.uk

North East London Foundation Trust
Therapy Block, Mascalls Park
Mascalls Lane, Warley
Brentwood CM14 5LJ

Katie Francis Paintings

Our office is now displaying these paintings by Katie Francis. Jenny and Lynn bought them at a gallery showing by Together last year.







They are all the right way up!

IMCA Success for HUBB

The Second Annual Report of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service was published on 23rd December 2009. HUBB logged a total of 71 referrals in Barking and Dagenham (28 out of 152 regions) and 60 in Havering (=33 out of 152). Combined this would move us to 6th in the table!

Thoughout England there was a 27% increase in the number of people recieving representation from an IMCA compared to the first year.

The Report states ‘The Department of Health is pleased that there has been an increase in referrals, to reflect the greater awareness of the IMCA service. At the same time, a greater rate of increase had been expected, and it is not thought that the IMCA service is reaching all the people it needs to as yet.’

The full report can be downloaded from the Department of Health website.