The theme of this year’s mental health awareness week, ‘Nature’, could not be more fitting for the exciting collaborative project between EDP Drug and Alcohol Services, Devon Wildlife Trust, Active Devon, and the University of Plymouth: Flourish in Nature.
Funded by Sport England and now well established in both south and north Devon, Flourish in Nature is an innovative programme that perfectly demonstrates how connecting with nature can have so many benefits for a person’s mental health and wellbeing! At its core, it is about people being more active in natural environments, but it is so much more than that.
In an exponential, ‘pay it forward’ type of design, people who are stable in their recovery journey are engaged in a structured programme of nature-based activity aimed at improving mental and physical wellbeing. They are then supported with access to a variety of training opportunities so they themselves can become volunteer leaders and support others on their recovery journey in nature-based activities.
The key elements of Flourish in Nature include:
- A 5 week programme with Devon Wildlife Trust
- Covering activities like nature conservation, habitat management, wildlife and plant identification, woodland skills (e.g. fire lighting, wood whittling), and nature bathing
- Volunteer training with EDP
- An accredited course enabling people to support others
- Participation in organised outdoor group activities
- Including activities like nature walks, tai chi in natural settings, yoga, cycling, kayaking, orienteering
- Support to access specific training courses to equip participants with the skills to lead activity groups on their own
- For example risk assessing, first aid, walk leader training, yoga instruction, football coaching
To date, over 14 people have built the confidence and gained the skills and qualifications to successfully lead activity groups as volunteers with other EDP Drug and Alcohol service users, with some volunteer led activities having around a dozen service users attending. The project has only gained momentum, and thanks to hard work and imagination of the team has come through the COVID restrictions and complications stronger than before.
Part of the local evaluation has been aimed at understanding how and why this kind of programme may help. Through observation and interviews it is becoming clear through what kind of mechanisms it is supporting people’s mental health. For those who have progressed to lead their own activities, it has empowered them with a sense of confidence and purpose, something often the individuals never thought possible! For many, it gives them a renewed sense of purpose as they learn to continue a life without drugs and alcohol, reinforcing their confidence to remain on their recovery journey. There is evidence of engaging with the programme developing a sense of self-determined behaviour, promoting a sense of control, competence, and connectedness in individuals – three things thought to be essential to somebody’s psychological wellness. But most strikingly it is clear how successfully the programme promotes and fulfils the “5 Ways to Wellbeing” for those taking part.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are set of public health guidelines for things people should do every day to promote their mental wellbeing, these are Connect, Learn, be Active, take Notice, and Give. Flourish in Nature is satisfying each in every aspect of its design and delivery:
CONNECT – People are making connections with other people and developing new relationships; they are connecting with nature through outdoor experience; and they are connecting with a new identity filled with confidence, purpose and satisfaction.
LEARN – New skills are learned through the sessions with Devon Wildlife Trust; people are learning how to engage and appreciate the natural environment and the benefit it can bring; the are learning new skills through various training courses; and some are learning how to strengthen their recovery journey through finding satisfying and fulfilling new activities.
Be ACTIVE – The Devon Wildlife Trust sessions are physically active (clearing overgrown habitats for example); and the very nature of the group activities support people to be active at a level which is achievable for them bringing all the physical and psychological benefits of physical activity
Take NOTICE – Mindfulness is an important part of all the sessions, taking notice of the physical world around them and engaging all the senses through various activities; noticing an appreciation for the natural world and the benefits connecting with it can bring; as well as taking notice of thoughts and feelings and reflecting on how completing the activities can make people feel both physically and emotionally.
GIVE – All the sessions have a strong sense of camaraderie where people support, listen and help each other; and people give their time to lead sessions as volunteers in order to support other people in their recovery journey.
The project continues to go from strength to strength as interest and numbers continue to rise in both south and north Devon. This is largely due to the hard work, commitment, and passion of the staff, as well as that of the volunteers themselves who remain steadfast in their dedication. For those who engage with the programme, it is undoubtedly supporting their mental health and wellbeing through a variety of mechanisms, and in a post COVID world this will be even more important than ever.
Author: Tom Thompson: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/tom-thompson
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/primarycare/public-health/flourish-in-nature