Ed puts his skills to work for Trust Links

We’re very proud to support Trust Links, an independent charity for mental health and wellbeing that serves people across South Essex.

The organisation’s Growing Together project operates from community gardens across our area. Recently, it has been putting in a huge effort to open a brand-new garden in Basildon. This large space will allow members to connect with each other while enjoying horticultural activities and accessing wellbeing support.

A few weeks ago, our HSEQ Manager Trevor Baker visited the site with one of our master craftsmen, Ed Campion. They decided to contribute to the garden by creating a 16-seat, hexadecagonal bench out of wood.

The decision made, it was up to Ed to deliver. Using his impressive skills, he created the bench in one-and-a-half weeks. He wasn’t working from drawings, so had to make all the complex calculations himself, working out all the correct angles needed to get the necessary circumference.

The result was a triumph, as you can see from the photo. Trust Links was delighted with the bench and will plant a tree in its centre of the bench, which will provide shade in the future. The bench now complements the garden’s two log cabins, potting shed, pond, raised beds and a wildlife area. Our next project will be to create a number of picnic benches so people can enjoy lunch outside in comfort.

Trevor Baker said:

“It’s important to Brown & Carroll to support such a life-changing charity as Trust Links. Ed is an extremely accomplished joiner – a real craftsman – and he did a brilliant job on the bench. We’re delighted to use our skills to help out, as well as providing expert advice in areas such as Health & Safety and the environment. We look forward to a long partnership with this valuable social enterprise.”