Allotment Antidote

Mental health is an issue close to my heart, I've blogged about my experience in the past.

A few weeks ago when working as the Tour de France reporter for BBC Radio Sheffield I reported on the cycling session in Hillsborough Park for people who've been sectioned.

Now, I've been to film a story for BBC Look North on a charity in Sheffield which is dramatically improving the lives of people with mental health problems by supporting them to run their own allotment. SAGE Greenfingers is celebrating its tenth birthday and over that time it's helped hundreds of people suffering with conditions including schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress and bipolar disorder. As an allotment owner myself, I can say I get as much mental as physical benefit from working the land and growing my own : )

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Tour of Britain

Covering the Tour of Britain has been exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure. I began in Bath at the start line, drove to Chinnor Hill to watch the riders struggle up the category 2 king of the mountain climb and ended at the finish line in Hemel Hempstead. At each location I reported live for BBC Radio Oxford. Here's my 3 minute highlights of an exciting stage which was won by the breakaway, leaving Britain's Alex Dowsett in the yellow jersey.
 

listen to ‘Tour of Britain Highlights’ on Audioboo

Rotherham Child Grooming

This week I've been at Westminster to help cover the fallout of the Rotherham child grooming report which found at least 1,400 children were sexually assaulted in the town over a 16 year period. I went to the Home Affairs Select Committee meeting chaired by Keith Vaz MP and have never experienced such a devastating cross-examination. The committee were entirely unconvinced by the evidence given by Shaun Wright (Police and Crime Commissioner), Joyce Thacker (Head of Children's Services in Rotherham) and Med Hughes (former Chief Constable).

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