Information for referrers

The information on this page is intended for professionals seeking to make a referral to one of our programmes. However, if you have a query that is not answered here please tap on the button below to send an enquiry by email.

Referral enquiry

Young People and Nature programme

Our Young People and Nature programme is designed to engage young adults (18-25) in outdoor activities that promote and contribute to recovery for those experiencing mental ill-health, and to help them develop transferable employment skills through conservation and horticultural activities.

The programme

Is accessible to young adults whatever mental health difficulties they are experiencing and whatever their co-existing conditions. Targeted (though not exclusively) at NEETs.
Provides interventions developed to alleviate the negative effects of mental ill-health on employment and educational opportunities.
Signposts young adults to volunteering activities with other agencies.
Encourages young adults to clearly identify goals and aspirations.
Engages young adults in a wide range of inspiring activities that blend the development of transferable employment skills with the therapeutic aspects of contact with nature:
- Propagating vegetables, flowers for cutting, and plants for local environmental projects.
- Surveying wildlife in various locations, returning results to specialist wildlife groups.
- Creating wildlife habitats in gardens and local nature reserves.
- Propagating plants in motivating, but commercial and technical ways.
- Finding and experiencing tranquillity and calm.

Timing

Takes place on Wednesday mornings to suit transport times for 48 weeks per year at:
- The Growing Space Market Gardens
- The Balsam Centre Wildlife Gardens
Enables young adults to participate for as long or short a time as necessary, taking small steps.
Participants can progress to other groups and workshops in the afternoon or on other days.
Participants can access the programme for as long as they need to, but progression is encouraged.

Referral

Can be made by any practitioner through the Open Mental Health Portal. You don’t need to be an NHS practitioner to make a referral.
- Insert ‘Growing Space Young Adults Programme’ in the ‘interests / hobbies’ box.
- An NHS No. is not necessary. Enter zeros in the box.
Young adults don’t need to be physically active; we can adapt activities to suit physical ability.
The programme sits neatly within the emerging Green Social Prescribing network.

Evidence-based practice

There is a huge body of scientific research demonstrating that contact with nature can significantly improve mental health and enhance employment opportunities. Robust peer-reviewed research conducted in the last 40 years shows that contact with nature can:

Reduce: depression, anxiety, stress, mental fatigue, high blood pressure.
Control: anger, aggression, addiction.
Improve: mood, sleep, cognition, creativity, immune functioning, heart & lung health.
Increase: longevity, energy, focus, memory.
Reduce symptoms associated with ADHD, trauma and addiction.
Enable people to find wonder and awe.

For DWP Work Coaches

The Growing Space isn't a course and it isn't a programme. It's a small, informal group — some on placement, some just getting through a hard patch — who meet a few times a week and get on with a real, physical job: potting on seedlings, growing food that goes to the local food bank.

There's no expectation to talk about why someone's there, and people tend to stay for the company as much as the gardening. To refer someone in, contact Nick Truman directly

For GPs and Health Coaches

The Growing Space is an outdoor group people can drop into as much or as little as suits them — there's no course to complete and nothing to sign up to. Nobody is asked why they've been referred, and nobody is expected to talk about it unless they want to.

It works as an ongoing, come-back-anytime relationship, not a fixed course with a start and end point.

Referrals for the Young Adults & Nature programme can be made by any practitioner, NHS or otherwise, through the Open Mental Health Portal.

For personal budget / PIP applications and social workers

A personal budget or PIP award can fund time at The Growing Space — one-to-one, hands-on sessions such as potting, labelling and watering, alongside a small, consistent group of friends. Many families use a separate day of their own, at the same site, as protected time too.

There's a charge for accessing this service, and a PIP, Direct Payment or other funding mechanism needs to be in place — contact us for details.