North East Derbyshire District Council awards its 100th community action grant to charity that helps men by getting them to look after pigs
A very unusual men’s mental health initiative has been named as the 100th recipient of North East Derbyshire District Council’s community action grants.
Photo courtesy of North East Derbyshire District Council
Pig Pals supports participants by getting them to care for pigs through feeding, brushing, and nurturing. Participants also engage in outdoor, land-based tasks to improve the site.
The initiative, based in North Wingfield, is run by Obsessive Recessive Roots CIC, which was awarded a cheque for £495.19 from Cllr Lee Hartshorne, Chair of the Council. This money will pay for tools and equipment for use in Pig Pals sessions designed especially for men’s mental health group Graft & Gab.
The community action grant scheme was launched in 2020, and since then has awarded some £50,000 to local community groups. That has included local sports groups and litter-picking initiatives. There have been awards to support various cultural activities and the Jubilee celebrations. The CAG’s eco schools grants have also supported youth-led environmental projects and a tree-planting initiative.
To qualify for up to £500, community groups must operating within North East Derbyshire and demonstrate that their work helps to tackle local issues as identified in the local council’s plan. For more details, see the community action grant page on the North East Derbyshire District Council website.
Loki Midian, a participant at Pig Pals, says: ‘When the world felt too busy, Pig Pals gave me a quiet space to step away from it all. It’s somewhere I can just be myself, spend time with friends, have a laugh, and forget the pressures for a while all while working towards a common goal and having peer support. It was nice to have a purpose and see the results of your work at the end of the session and focus on what you can achieve.’
Jack Hanson, another participant, adds: ‘Pig Pals is the ideal set up for me, there’s just no pressure. It’s not just the quiet space and good company, it’s the work we do together – feeding the pigs, looking after the animals, sorting jobs around the land. It gives me a purpose, something positive to focus on, and at the same time I get to have a laugh with the lads and have a laid-back offload of problems. I always leave feeling lighter than when I arrived and now I have new friends I can chat to in the community. It’s also great to see it develop and know it’s improving the area for everyone.’
Shay Tipler, Leader of the Pig Pals initiative, says: ‘Receiving this grant has made a huge difference, allowing us to bring Pig Pals to life and create a safe, supportive space where people can connect with animals and nature. It’s already having such a positive impact, and we’re excited to see how it will continue to grow.’
Cllr Hartshorne, Chair of North East Derbyshire District Council, says: ‘It’s great to see a group like this making a real difference to their community. I’m delighted we have been able to help them with a grant and wish them all the very best for the future.’
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