TCV’s aim is to connect people and greenspaces by combining health and employability benefits for individuals and to make improvements to community greenspaces.
Since the very first pilot twenty years ago the Green Gym programme is structured specifically to deliver health and environmental benefits. These fun and free outdoor sessions deliver real tangible improvements to community greenspaces, by delivering exercise through practical activities such as planting trees, sowing meadows and establishing wildlife ponds.
With delivery partners such as Paths for All, TCV is working towards the SNH vision of “Our Natural Health Service”. This brings together partners across environment, transport, sport, education and health who seek to maximise the potential of Scotland’s Natural Heritage as a health promoting asset.
In simple terms we know that people getting outdoors and active, connecting to nature and their local communities is good for people’s health and wellbeing. We also know that our health service is facing growing pressure and desperately needs to shift focus to prevention and keeping people healthy.
“Our Natural Health Service” seeks to link these two needs more effectively together, improving NHS sites for people and nature, supporting people to take part in more green health activities and supporting health professionals to refer and signpost more patients to these services. For this to work effectively it needs Paths for All Walk Leaders, TCV Project officers and a range of other Green Health providers to link up effectively, to offer volunteers the best range of green health activities possible and to present to health care professionals a joined-up network of green health projects.
If you think some of your walk group members would be interested in other volunteering and green health opportunities with TCV, please encourage them to check out TCV’s website www.tcv.org.uk to find a Green Gym or volunteering opportunity close to them.
Visit SNH’s website to find out more about “Our Natural Health Service” at www.nature.scot.