LIONMOUTH RURAL CENTRE CIC

Lionmouth Rural Centre is set in seven acres of rural countryside on the fringe of Durham City, surrounded by ex-mining villages. It is bounded by the Deerness River to the south and the Deerness Valley Walkway to the North. In between is a mix of woodlands, meadows, ponds, demonstration gardens and vegetable terraces.

The Community Interest Company offers a safe place where people with mental health, social and learning disabilities are encouraged to take part in practical and meaningful activities in art, horticulture, woodwork, pottery, cookery and conservation. Our clients are mostly referred to us through the Council Learning Disability or Mental Health teams, and range in age from school leavers through to 65+. 

As a by-product of our service we have a small plant nursery which provides an outlet and reason for our daily activities, and in order to attract local visitors to the garden centre we compliment it with a simple, small food outlet that sells teas/ coffees, soups, quiches, cakes and sandwiches, all made daily and served by our clients. We are non-profit making, and anything we do make gets ploughed straight back into the centre.  ​

We take placements from training organisations, provide training ourselves from  life-skill learning to City & Guild Diplomas through to apprenticeship schemes carefully geared for those with learning difficulties and mental health issues.

We regularly attend  local craft fairs and events in the region to sell our wares and promote the centre. We host corporate social volunteering, as well has having a small band of elite volunteers that help us work with the clients.