Aviva Community Fund has provided £462 of match funding
Healing through Nature
Deeside, Wales, United Kingdom
Aim
We want to empower hard-to-reach communities to sustainably develop a piece of land, providing a sense of purpose and boosting self-esteem.
About us
We are an Arts for Wellbeing organisation with a passion for supporting, empowering and nurturing our future generations.
We use the Arts in all of it’s forms to tell stories, share and develop skills, reduce anxiety and depression and increase self-esteem, confidence and overall wellbeing.
Our groups engage in meaningful activity and purposeful projects covering a variety of topics and needs, all with the common goal to come together, share stories and empower & inspire others, including the wider community at our seasonal community led events.
Throughout our creative engagement projects, we also offer deeper support and skills building including Frist Aid for Mental Health, Safeguarding, Resilience, Growth Mindset & Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness.
We feel that this well-rounded approach with different engagement and outcome levels allows us to provide additional value added to our provision.
This Project
We will promote healthy, thriving communities by engaging hard-to-reach communities (homeless, those struggling with addiction) in conservation work, encouraging them to take lead on the sustainable development of a piece of land. We anticipate that, by learning about climate change and the healing power of nature, such communities will experience a greater sense of purpose as well as a more positive sense of wellbeing. Funds will be used for tools/equipment, training, and facilitator costs.
We currently work on a construction project with 6 men. We have found this shared purpose/interest creates a safe space for more difficult conversations, having a positive impact on mental health. We want to expand this project to focus more on conservation and reach those communities that need it most. We want to involve those in our local homeless shelters to widen our impact. We anticipate that this funding will allow us to expand and help a further 20+ beneficiaries.
By teaching local vulnerable adults about climate change, conservation, and how to develop a piece of land sustainably e.g. using upcycled materials, we see conservation in action and teach people about the climate crisis. At the root of healthy, thriving communities is an appreciation of our environment and this appreciation has a positive impact on our wellbeing. The sense of ownership and purpose provided by this project will boost engagement and motivation to learn about such matters.
Where will the funds go?
Money will be spent on training: for facilitators in any qualifications necessary to ensure safety, and for participants, if required, for the use of power tools etc. The fund will also cover the cost of equipment/tools and materials (all sustainably sourced) and facilitator fees for the duration of the project.
This project successfully funded on 20th September 2022