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The more funding we receive, the more sessions we can host and the more people can j...
Urgent support for mental health in Bristol & Bath
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Cost of Living Boost
Donations to our project will be matched by the Cost of Living Boost up to the value of £250 to help us tackle the cost of living crisis.
Please note only one donation per supporter will be matched by the Cost of Living Boost. View the Terms & Conditions.
Aim
Urgent funding for food, travel and mental health support in Bristol and Bath during the cost of living and mental health crises.
Roots to Wellbeing transforms people’s mental health. It is needed now, more than ever before. People with mental health problems in Bristol and Bath need you now, more than ever before.
The male suicide rate in the UK is at an all time high and continues to grow. These men leave behind partners, children, friends and devastated communities. The shadow of COVID-19 and cost of living are pushing more people into poor mental health. With an increasingly stretched NHS, charities must step-in. If we do not, the mental health crisis will worsen and more lives will be lost.
The average time it takes for somebody to receive support through Roots to Wellbeing is just over a week, compared to weeks or months for other services. But, people are arriving hungry. Some can’t get to sessions because travel costs too much. The cost of living is having a severe effect on people who are already struggling.
Roots to Wellbeing
There's a strong link between being outdoors and mental health. So to help people recover from lockdowns, we launched Roots to Wellbeing. It’s now a leading in-nature therapy service in the west country.
The charity’s qualified psychologist leads sessions. People with a range of conditions benefit, from depression and anxiety, to schizophrenia, Asperger’s and PTSD. But the sessions welcome everybody - people seeking asylum, those who’ve recently lost a loved one, or who have left care or prison too.
People get stuck in to gardening, crafts, nature photography, talking therapy and mindfulness activities. A crucial aspect of the service is that people are referred to other services afterwards - including employment coaching and support with the cost of living.
How you can help
Your Park Bristol and Bath urgently needs donations to continue Roots to Wellbeing and provide people with transport and warm meals, so they continue to come along and benefit.
After joining, 100% of participants say they feel happier. Two in every three feel more confident, calmer and become more active.
The Aviva Community Fund is generously match funding all donations of up to £250, doubling your gift.
- Just £30 matched to £60 could buy lunch for 15 people ensuring they enjoy a hot meal during the cost of living crisis.
- £40 matched to £80 could pay for everybody's transport to a session so they continue to come and can concentrate on getting better.
- £100 matched to £200 could pay for a full course of Roots to Wellbeing for one person, including onward referrals to financial and other services.
This male participant was suicidal before joining Roots to Wellbeing. He lives with anxiety and severe depression. He is in constant pain after being on a surgery waiting list for four years: “My blood pressure is always high. The nurse asked me to think of my happy place so I pictured these sessions. My blood pressure went down. I am happiest here. The sessions saved my life."
Aviva Cost of Living Boost has provided £5,087 of match funding
Sovereign Network Group: Thriving Communities has provided £2,500 of match funding
Aviva Community Fund has provided £1,350 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 9th February 2023