Branching Out is an innovative development for adults who use mental health services within Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
For each client, the service consists of approximately three hours of activities per week in a woodland setting over a 12 week period.
The clients take part in a variety of activities during the 12 weeks, including:
- Physical activity e.g. health walks and tai chi
- Conservation activities e.g. rhododendron clearance and willow coppicing
- Bushcraft, e.g. fire lighting and shelter building
- Environmental art e.g. photography and willow sculptures
On completion of the course there is a graduation ceremony where clients receive certificates of completion, tool handling and achievement (e.g. The John Muir Award where applicable).
The video clip below outlines the work of the project.
Award winners
Branching Out has won two awards:
- the UKPHA Michael Varnam Health, Humanity and Environment Award 2010.
- 'Best Green Healthcare Provider' at the Scottish Green Awards 2010
Best practise case study
The Employers' Forum on Disability have published Branching Out as a Best Practice Case Study on disability at www.efd.org.uk/media-centre/case-studies.
Evaluation
A full evaluation has been completed of Branching Out:
- Read the Executive Summary (PDF 1.2Mb)
- Read the full Branching Out report (PDF 2.5Mb)
Key evaluation results
The key results of the evaluation were:
- Low attrition rates in a hard to reach population.
- Significant increases in physical activity.
- Self-reported improvements in confidence and self-esteem from participating clients.
- Intergenerational appeal / appeal to both sexes.
Resource guide
A resource guide (PDF 3.2Mb) has also been produced to help other organizations set up programmes like Branching Out.
The service was developed as a result of a partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership, Glasgow Centre for Population Health and Glasgow City Council.
For details of how the project was set up, see Branching Out - Greenspace on referral (PDF 310k).
Branching Out - national seminar
The first Branching Out seminar took place on 15th September 2010 and brought together the health, environmental and voluntary sectors to showcase options for using Greenspace to deliver mental health and wellbeing benefits. For presentations from the day see the national seminar page.
Contact details
For more details contact:
Kirsty Cathrine
Branching Out Programme Manager
Tel: 01698 368557
Email: kirsty.cathrine@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Partners:
