Ecominds awards funding to nine eco-projects

(17/03/2009)

Ecotherapy is proven to be highly beneficial to people with mental health problems: Mind's recent study, showed that after a country walk, 90 per cent of participants had increased self-esteem and 71 per cent reported decreased feelings of depression.

One in four people experience mental distress yet huge stigma still surrounds mental health. Ecominds is a funding scheme administered by the mental health charity Mind on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund. By improving local environments, Ecominds hopes to promote the inclusion of people with mental health problems in their communities through social contact.

Over £1million has been awarded today to 9 eco-projects throughout England from new grants scheme Ecominds. They are the first of 125 projects set to benefit from £7.5million funding over the next 5 years, as leading mental health charity Mind continues to set the green agenda for mental health.

The donations will fund projects that involve people with experience of mental distress in improving local environments. Grants of up to £250K are available from Ecominds, a scheme delivered by Mind with £7.5m of funding from the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme. Groups and organisations are urged to apply- whether it be for a recycling initiative or to turn disused land into a public garden. The next grants panel takes place later this year.

One of the successful projects is 'Load of Old Rubbish' which will fund trainees from Finchale Training College (Durham), many of whom experience mental distress, to produce a recycling themed garden for the 2009 RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. The initiative is to receive £13,000.

Nearly £150,000 goes to a conservation project at the Wildwood Trust in Kent. Mental health service users will tend rare species and animals to create a woodland area for public education and enjoyment. Other initiatives receiving a vital cash boost included organic growing enterprises, community and therapeutic garden projects, a nature reserve and allotment sites.

Barry Watts, Grants Manager of Ecominds said "It's great to finally see the funding reach these worthwhile projects after everyone's hard work. We are sure that each will directly benefit the future of people with mental health problems, teaching skills and providing a vital support network. We have so much to look forward to now, as we watch these projects progress and begin to receive the next round of applications- keep them coming!"

Related categories:  Biodegradable waste   Wildlife protection