ROTHERHAM BREATHING SPACE
Thanks to Project Giving Back our Chelsea ‘Breathing Space’ garden has found its permanent home in Rotherham.
Breathing Space Rotherham is an NHS community lung rehabilitation centre supporting people living with lung conditions from all over Yorkshire. We worked with patients and staff during planning to understand what the garden needed to support holistic rehabilitation, including a ’six minute walk test’ track, places to rest, recover and socialise, but also to take part in gentle breath related exercises such as yoga & tai chi and gardening.
This space is being enjoyed by patients, families and staff alike.
“As soon as people walk into the garden the sense of calm is apparent. People engage more and smile. They sit and open up about the difficulties they are experiencing…and staff have their lunch every day in the garden, it’s so rewarding to hear people chatting about their day to day experiences”, said Anne Milner, a stakeholder with breathlessness using Breathing Space Rotherham.
“Having a garden right on your doorstep, just behind where you work, feels like a dream. I often find myself wishing that every NHS building had a space like this. Watching the trees and listening to the birds gives me time to pause, practise my breathing, and reset before the day begins…It has become more than just a beautiful outdoor space; it is a place of wellbeing, resilience, and renewal. For me, the Breathing Space Garden is a reminder that even a few minutes spent in nature can lift our spirits, improve our wellbeing, and help us be the best version of ourselves for our colleagues, our families, and the patients we care for”, said Rachid (Ash) Kassimi, Health-care Assistant at Breathing Space Rotherham
