This year nature was selected as the focus for Mental Health Awareness Week because it is well known that nature is important for mental and emotional health. The Mental Health Foundation sets out tips, podcasts, research, policy, and resources here on its website
We wanted to showcase and give a huge shout out to all of those social enterprises that are supporting people with their mental health whilst working with nature. These organisations provide significant social value by working with nature and improving mental health, improving the environment and developing local communities whilst generating an income from trading.
There are so many out there to learn from. We have selected a few to show case, set out below:
Apricot Centre
A social enterprise set in Dartington that has a farm that provides commercial and wellbeing services. It provides local sustainable food, it supports wildlife and it provides therapy, education and recreation. The social value is high with outcomes in mental health, conservation, health and community development.
A social enterprise based in Derbyshire, Wild Wood delivers eco-therapy to children in need, young people at risk of offending and people with mental health conditions. It has a forest school in a relaxed, calm and beautiful environment. It generates its income from grants, contracts and trading.
A social enterprise based in Brighton. The Centre for Ecotherapy uses nature-based and horticultural therapies, mindfulness and practical activities to improve wellbeing and mental health. It has a large area of land, and organic allotment garden and an organic wilderness area populated with trees, shrubs and plenty of wildlife. It offers its outdoor space to therapists delivering yoga and tai chi, group talking, art or drama outside into nature.
A social enterprise based in Somerset and an outdoor community venue. It uses horticultural therapy to support wellbeing by delivering group activities, courses, volunteer days. Profits made from its nursery are used to make the space accessible. Outcomes include wellbeing, mental health, physical health, loneliness and isolation, education, employment.
A horticulture charity and social enterprise based in London whose activities include urban kitchen gardens, developing green spaces, a community café, gardening and educational sessions for schools, community development and youth training.
Outcomes include employment, education, health and wellbeing, community development and improving the natural environment. It generates an income from contracts with housing developers, gardening contractors, local authorities and schools.
A horticultural social enterprise in Oxfordshire that uses a commercial model to grow fresh produce for retail and wholesale markets. It runs social groups to combat loneliness, it runs allotment activities for people with early stage dementia, it provides a natural environment for people using social prescribing, and it provides educational activities for schools.
A landscape gardening company and social enterprise that brings people together to develop public areas, community and private green spaces for living, learning, growing and playing. It supports community growing, delivers events, and it runs educational activities. It’s social value is in education, employment, mental health, community development and environmental.
a mental charity, organic farm and training centre set in beautiful Cumbria! Provides natural activities as therapy to build emotional resilience, develop life skills, and improve mental and physical health.
Share is a London-based charity that has a horticultural business (a nursery) and a catering service. It provides training and employment for disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, physical impairments, autism and mental health needs, helping them to realise their dreams and potential.
With good diverse income sources this charity makes a huge impact! Outcomes include life skills, education, employment, independence, community development, voice and participation, health and mental health.
Social adVentures is an NHS spinout and a wellbeing social enterprise that delivers public health and social care contracts and runs social enterprises – a healthy living centre, a garden centre, childcare, a kid’s adventure centre, and a forest school. Outcomes are tremendous including well-being, physical health, social isolation, community development, education and employment.