Accessible walks, forest therapy & park sports provided for our community of adults with disabilities. Trips in the Kent countryside will be lead by staff trained in facilitating disabled accessible walks. We believe that not only is accessing the outdoors good for health; it is a right.
The physical and mental health benefits of the outdoors are well known. A 2018 study (Twohig-Bennett & Jones) demonstrated positive health benefits of exposure to green-spaces. However, for many disabled people accessing outdoor spaces is not possible without additional support. Whether that be because of physical barriers to wheelchair users, finding routes that safe for those with lower mobility, or providing support for those managing high anxiety and other intangible barriers to access.
This project will provide trips supported by experienced care staff, will cover the costs of training a forest therapist to run outdoors therapy sessions, and equipment costs for outdoors sports equipment
What we'll deliver:
- 30 group walks in outdoor spaces
- 1 additional longer trip each month
- Sports and Active park activities
- 1 member of staff trained as a forest therapist (6month course)
- Regular forest therapy sessions. (after training)
Why it's a great idea:
Touchbase Care supports a group of 70 adults in the community. We support people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairment and acute neuro-diverse conditions. We are well placed to support this broad range of support needs, recognising that each individual has different capacities and challenges. This project will focus on facilitating walks and activities for our beneficiaries within public spaces, and creating opportunities for our members to socialise and participate in the broader community.
The walks will include additional activities that will allow participants engage in therapy sessions, to learn about the landcape, and participate in activities that promote movement and exercise.
We expect 8 to 12 participants on each walk, with approximately 45 beneficiaries engaging in the project in total. We expect to see (through surveys and casestudies) that participants will report improved wellbeing, and greater participation in active pursuits.
Steps to get it done:
- Purchase of hiking poles to support people with lower mobility
- Purchase of library of protective outdoors garments (hats, gloves, coats)
- Regular planned walking sessions occuring as part of beneficiary support
- Opportunities for volunteering created to help facilitate walks
Many in our beneficiary group live in supported settings and have reduced opportunity to get outdoors and into nature. Amongst are beneficiaries are wheelchair users, and those with reduced mobility. Activities require clear planning so that we can ensure accessibility. We will adapt the project to the specific needs of participants by involving beneficiaries as part of the planning process.
Access to leisure activities have been further impacted in the area by the closure of the Folkestone Sports Centre which was accessed by some of our members. This project would alleviate the loss of those facilities for a vulnerable section of the community
Many of our beneficiary group benefit from therapy sessions in our centre as a means of processing their experiences and decreasing anxiety. We'd like to extend this offering and make use of the wellbeing benefits of the outdoors in an intentional way by training a member of staff in evidence-based forest therapy
