The Sheltered Work Opportunities Project (SWOP) currently has two projects, Cherry Tree Nursery in Bournemouth, established in 1990, and Chestnut Nursery in Poole, established in 2001.

The charity was set up to address an identified need to provide sheltered work rehabilitation for people with mental health issues and to reduce stigma and discrimination by increasing public awareness of mental illness.

The Nurseries offer a safe and non-threatening place to work, where people can receive support from staff, gain strength from developing friendships with each other, share problems and experiences, and build social networks through working together.

There are many different types of work available, all of which contribute to the running of the nurseries and to the strengthening of a mutually self-supporting community. Confidence is boosted through the knowledge that all play a part in keeping a thriving, popular and successful nursery project running.

There is no upper age limit or restriction on the time that people can stay at SWOP.