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About Lemon Balm

Our values

Evidence based and Effective

We provide a quality service which is evidence based & effective in supporting people in their own health and wellbeing goals.

Empowering and Empathetic

We work with people using empathy rather than sympathy; listening to people and developing services with them rather than for them.

Balanced

Our workstream planning, our design of spaces and systems and purchasing decisions are made with a balance to support wellbeing of people & planet.

Positive, Friendly and Fun

If we’re not enjoying what we do, how can we expect the people we work with to!

Resilient

We price our work and plan our workload so that we can pay our team fairly, maintain the sustainability of our organisation and generate a profit, to reinvest in achieving our vision. 

Our structure

Lemon Balm is a Community Interest Company registered with Companies House (number 09740573) and the Regulator of Community Interest Companies in August 2015.

We currently have a board of directors of three, one paid member of staff who works part-time, one part-time contractor and from time to time we hire sessional/freelance staff.

We are currently funded through a combination of grants and paid contracts of work.

What's "social" about Lemon Balm?

  • Everyone who works for Lemon Balm will be paid a fair rate of pay for their work, based on the skills, qualifications and experience necessary to carry out the role, and they will pay tax on their full earnings at the appropriate rate.
  • Directors will not be paid more simply for being directors. We will not pay directors dividends.
  • We pay tax on any profits we make. Any profit we make will be reinvested into the development of the business.
  • Once our profits exceed a level beyond that needed to build the business we will use them to offer some of our services free to individuals or organisations.
  • Our asset lock requires that should we wind the business up, any assets should be distributed to other organisations which meet our social aims.
  • Our work is social in nature - to improve health and wellbeing and our values state that we will promote environmental protection.
  • We involve and support volunteers in our work.
  • We support the health and wellbeing of our team, encouraging flexible working and healthy work-life balance and we support the wellbeing of the planet.

Meet the team

Isabel Swift - Founding Director

I founded Lemon Balm 6 years ago and am the lead designer and social and therapeutic horticulturist. I am passionate about the active and passive benefits of bringing individuals and communities close to nature. I qualified in STH with the Occupational Therapy Dept of Cov uni, and was particularly inspired after visiting the therapy gardens of Sweden with a Landscape Institute funded Travel Bursary. My design work draws on years of experience in the Community Sector, managing Community Gardens, charities supporting Older People & the Volunteering & Community Department of Leeds University Union, in addition to my earlier studies in Environmental Science, Horticulture, Occupational Therapy and Zoology. I am a Women Friendly Leeds ambassador.

Hannah Beard - Director and Design Associate

I am a Landscape Architect, on the path to chartership experienced in the development of natural play design, community garden spaces. I have recently been working in historic landscapes alongside other professionals with the National Trust. My particular interests include innovative ways in which to involve community stakeholders in decision making, and the use of creative management techniques to deliver effective and engaging places for people to live.

Caroline Scott - Director

I am a freelance consultant at Edible Growing. My passion is to grow food locally using bio-abundant permaculture techniques. I have previously worked with the University of Leeds’ Community Growing project managing a roof garden, the ‘sustainability garden’ and run gardening projects in schools and with people with long term health conditions.

Jackie Prescott - Director

I am a passionate local activist in Meanwood with 40 years of business experience to bring to the team. I am keen to support community wellbeing and to preserve biodiversity and our local greenspaces.

Sally Silk - Finance and Administration Assistant

I have been working with Lemon Balm for the past 3 years as the finance and administration assistant, supporting Isabel on some fantastic projects. After having my two children I took a career change from a background in financial services to find a more organic and rewarding way of working. Whilst supporting Lemon Balm with their work in and around Leeds I am continually learning about the Community Sector, volunteering and the health and wellbeing benefits of being closer to nature.

Ruth Addison - Fundraising and GIS Officer

I support Lemon Balm with fundraising and creating interactive maps to help with planning and collaboration. I became involved in 2021 after retiring early from Leeds City Council where I worked for over 20 years in IT, and data and intelligence teams. During my time at the council, I became interested in the crucial role of community-based organisations in making Leeds a better place, so I am delighted to work for an organisation that is so committed to the wellbeing of our people and planet.

Chris Hughes - Design Associate

I am a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute with a BA Hons (First Class) and Postgraduate diploma (with Distinction) from Leeds Metropolitan University. I also serve as a guest tutor at Sheffield University on their Landscape Architecture degree course. My experience covers a broad and diverse range of projects across a variety of sectors including residential masterplanning, university public realm, detailed landscape design and public realm strategies. My key skills include landscape assessment, site feasibility, site promotion and detailed design.

Lianne Mease - Marketing Support

I support Lemon Balm with Marketing on a freelance basis through my company, Butterflump. I have 22 years experience in marketing, the last 6 years of which have been focused on working with soul-led, inclusive, ethical and environmentally conscious businesses so Lemon Balm ticks all my boxes!

Partners

We often partner with our friends Urban Wilderness on larger design jobs. If you are interested in partnering with us for a project, please contact us.

Volunteers

We work with lovely volunteers who help care for our demo garden at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm and support our other community projects. If you would like to become a Lemon Balm volunteer, please apply here