Mental Health Charity
Bridewell is a mental health charity, founded in 1994, that offers social and therapeutic horticulture to adults living in Oxfordshire. We are a recovery service and as such our aim is to work with people with enduring mental health issues, helping them move forwards until they are able to lead more active lives in the wider local community.
Ours is a working environment, where the emphasis is on getting out into the open air, taking on new challenges and becoming part of our team. For people who are often quite isolated, this is an important part of their recovery. Based in the Cotswolds we work our walled garden and vineyard using organic practices.
"Without Bridewell, I don't know where we'd be"
Madi ffrench
Garden Manager
Julie Stantiford
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
Ian Gourlay
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
Christine
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
Emily Wolfenden
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
Pauline Stowell
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
Alex Taylor
Part time Fundraiser
Claire Bellamy
Administrator
John Adams (Interim Chair)
John is a retired Chief Executive of a national charity working with ex-offenders and has also been a Trustee of a number of organisations. Keen to help those who struggle with mental ill health he says that he 'loves the way in which Bridewell gives people space and purpose in such a delightful setting'
Richard Khosla-Stevens (Treasurer)
Dedicated dog owner and novice pig keeper with a career background within senior management in the publishing industry. Richard started his role as trustee in November 2015 and became Treasurer in 2016.
Tom Walsh
Tom has a career background in educational management in international schools. With a keen interest in the outdoors and mental well-being, he is happy to have the opportunity to contribute to a local charity.
Rose Hallam
Worked as an NHS Occupational Therapist for eleven years. Then spent 16 years as director of RESTORE an innovative mental health rehabilitation charity. From 2002 – 2014 worked as a freelance consultant, specialising in health, welfare, and community development. Has served on Government advisory committees on disability and employment. A lifelong gardener & vegetable grower.
Heidi Black
Heidi is the Human Resources Manager in a local Oxfordshire Company. She has also been Director of a counselling charity in her earlier career.
Sandra Clarke
Sandra comes with a wealth of financial experience and is currently the Financial Controller in a multi-national group. She also has experience of working in small charities.
Andy Vardé
With a background in engineering, spending over twenty five years in senior management and board roles in the Medical Devices industry, Andy is delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to Bridewell Gardens. He joined as a trustee in 2018.
Rob Chaplin
Dr Rob Chaplin recently retired as a Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry working on an inpatient unit for the acute admission of working-aged male inpatients at Littlemore Hospital, Oxford. He has been working as the Clinical Lead for Accreditation at the College Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI) at the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the last two years, having previously been a Research Fellow at the CCQI for over 10 years.