At the heart of our new strategy for 2024-2027 is our commitment to being Leaders in Green Care. We believe in the transformative power of nature to enhance the lives of those we support, and we’re excited to share how we’re making this vision a reality.
Green Care interventions and nature-based therapy
In 2024-2025, we’re launching an exciting programme that brings the benefits of nature directly to those we support. Our Green Care Programme, which includes nature-based therapy and care interventions, will offer a range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored for adults with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health problems. These activities are designed to help individuals find purpose, develop new skills, reconnect with the natural world and offer ‘real’ work and skills-based opportunities. We’re committed to creating personalised pathways, ensuring that each person can grow and thrive at their own pace.
Through our Green Care approach and interventions, we aim to provide a solution for the wider public health, NHS and social care sectors in the UK.
Expanding Green Care beyond our communities
We believe that the benefits of Green Care should be accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why we’re working on extending our Green Care opportunities beyond our residential communities. By 2025, we’ll be offering Green Care nature and lifestyle opportunities and nature-based health promotion to those living outside our communities, creating vibrant and inclusive spaces where everyone can live, learn, and thrive.
Therefore, our Green Care model reflects three pillars of work for the Trust:
- Green Care Interventions/Nature-based Therapy: A range of indoor and outdoor supported interventions for people with a learning disability, autism or mental health support needs, designed to enhance purpose, increase skills, and reconnect to nature.
- Green Care Nature and Lifestyle Opportunities: Active promotion of health and wellbeing activity such as walks, access to nature projects, organic food growing, healthy eating initiatives.
- Nature-based health promotion: Promotion of active interaction with nature such as gardening and conservation and social/nature prescribing.
Building strong partnerships
To achieve our ambitious goals, we’re actively seeking partnerships with like-minded organisations. These collaborations will help us expand our Green Care services and bring our vision to life. By 2027, we’ll have established clear growth targets, allowing us to reach even more people with our Green Care offering.
Integrating commercial and social value
We’re also exploring new ways to integrate our Green Care initiatives with our social enterprise activities. Whether it’s growing organic food, running eco-friendly workshops, or creating sustainable retail opportunities, we’re committed to ensuring that our commercial activities support our social values. This approach helps us sustain our Green Care programme while staying true to our mission.
A fully integrated Green Care model by 2027
Our goal is to have a fully integrated Green Care and Supported Living model by 2027. This innovative approach will redefine social care by combining high-quality support with the proven benefits of nature. We’re leading the way in showing how the connection between people and the environment can create healthier, happier lives.
