NHS South Yorkshire has received further national funding to support people to engage in nature-based activities to improve their mental and physical health
The funding boost will allow more green social prescribing and improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living across South Yorkshire.
Green social prescribing is the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental and physical health, particularly in communities affected by health inequalities.
South Yorkshire is one of seven national test and learn sites for green social prescribing, initially receiving £500k of national investment over two years in 2021-2023. South Yorkshire has recently been awarded a further £298k to take this work forward in 2024/25.
Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations from across the region, who can demonstrate that they can support the programme through existing activities, have been invited to bid for monies from the funds, and following a huge response 23 grant awards have been made.
Dr David Crichton, GP and Chief Medical Officer at NHS South Yorkshire, said: “Spending time in and connecting with nature is shown to improve people’s mood, anxiety levels and physical health. In South Yorkshire we are lucky to be surrounded by world renowned green spaces, as well as ‘blue’ spaces such as canals and waterways, fishing ponds and reservoirs.
“Thanks to the previous funding, we are already working in partnership with voluntary and community organisations to support people who don’t feel they have access to, or the opportunity to, appreciate the positive effects of the natural world around them. We’re really pleased we’ve received the additional funding to expand this programme further.”
NHS South Yorkshire is working in partnership with key organisations from across South Yorkshire, including local authorities, universities, VCSE organisations and social prescribing organisations, to deliver the system work on green social prescribing.
One of these organisations, South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, is supporting the grants process on behalf of NHS South Yorkshire and the partnership system.
Jess O’Neill, Grants and Partnerships Manager at South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF), said: “We are so pleased that we have been able to provide funding to 23 organisations from across South Yorkshire who will each be providing activities and programmes via green social prescribing.
“From local walks to wilderness activities, the funding is supporting a wide range of new sessions which will help to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living in our local communities. We’re proud to be working in partnership on this innovative project.”
