Grace and Jason (known as Ja) Dalgleish are born dreamers and schemers. They have long dreamt of creating somewhere unique. Somewhere where those who live with mental and physical health challenges can enjoy community, connectedness, and purpose. Co-founders Grace and Ja came to realise the need for the project more than ever back in 2007. During this year Ja was involved in a serious accident which led to the loss of his health and his business.
During this very dark time he spent a year with a special horticultural community down in Cornwall. This experience helped hugely in his recovery. He says it saved him. Together Grace and Ja became convinced if people could take part in meaningful stuff together, there were countless benefits! And even more so if this meaningful stuff happened out in nature. Ja and Grace watched fellow students who lacked purpose, begin to find some. They saw the isolated ones connect with others through healthy (and sometimes unlikely!) relationships.
Grace and Ja saw first-hand that if an individual living with mental ill health was supported well over a longer time span, it could be a game changer for them. Together, they became convinced of the need for a nurturing setting which enabled people to come and go as their mental health allowed. This contrasted with the more common model of ‘time-limited’ recovery projects. Their belief continued to deepen as they both began new jobs up in Wiltshire.
Ja’s background in arboriculture and horticulture led him to work in mental health recovery for a nationwide charity. His role saw him working in partnership with organisations like Natural England, Forestry Commission and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, delivering outreach sessions involving structured, work-like activities to clients. Connection and purpose were a natural bi-product of the activities undertaken.
Grace began her work as a self-employed community artist. Delivering fun and engaging creative sessions to all manner of organisations and charities cemented her convictions. She loved gathering individuals together to participate in creative activities and never failed to be amazed at how transformative this was.
Why is a social enterprise the right business model for Meadowbrook?
Social enterprises have a financially sustainable business model at their heart so can continue to make a lasting impact.
Social enterprises question the status quo and sow seeds that can make a real difference.
Social enterprises create positive change within society from a grassroots level.
Social enterprises sit happily in between a traditional commercial business model and a charity.
Copyright. 2023. Meadowbrook (Wiltshire) CIC. All Rights Reserved.
