Thank you to Sophie

At the end of February we said goodbye to our administrator Sophie Teasdale who has been with us in this role for the past 18 months.

Sophie joined us initially as a gardener in 2019 and then stepped up to fill the previous administrator Nic’s shoes when she moved to Devon. We have been encouraged to see her progression within the charity and it has been a delight to see her grow in confidence over the years. 

During the time she has been with us she has brought a genuine warmth and affection to the role, encouraging us as staff team and volunteers with her good cheer.

Her approachability and kindness to both gardeners and volunteers mean she will be very much missed, but we are excited to see her growing into her new role as an early years assistant.

Sophie - thank you for all you have brought to Grow for Life, please know you are always welcome back in the garden - we’d love to see you again.

I close by sharing something Sophie herself wrote about her experience of Grow for Life:

"As violently as a health condition uprooted my life when I was 13 years old, Grow For Life has been a contrasting gentle balm, keeping me sane when I felt hopeless and unable to engage in outdoor activities due to anxiety, fatigue and unsteady balance. It brought hope, especially during the unpredictable period of lockdowns during the pandemic.

Since I started volunteering in 2019 it has provided a safe space where I am able to interact with other adults of a variety of ages while doing something useful without the pressure of meeting deadlines or goals. I feel like I have learned a lot about human kindness and accepting people as they are as we all have our own challenges. It has been really humbling to see how others have been transformed around me and helped each other in this supportive environment.

Being outdoors tending to plants somehow also tends to our physical and mental wellbeing as human beings.  Gardening in a range of locations across Bath has given me joy in rediscovering my home town and taking part in life in a non-medical setting. Learning about nature and plants in a hands-on way from people passionate about their subject is infectious. I have grown in confidence, able to take on the administration role, working as an employee while still being able to volunteer and maintain connections made."