Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has secured a significant £450,000 boost to extend its adult wellbeing programme in Swindon for another four years, thanks to renewed backing from The National Lottery Community Fund.
The Swindon Wellbeing initiative, which has quietly but steadily supported residents facing mental health challenges, will now expand its work thanks to this fresh injection of funding. It marks another chapter in the Trust’s fifteen-year mission to improve mental health through meaningful connections with nature.
Set against the backdrop of an often fast-paced, urban Swindon, the programme offers a grounding counterbalance – reconnecting individuals with their local environment, and now, also with their communities. The Trust’s renewed focus is not only about supporting individuals one-to-one, but also equipping local organisations to better understand and assist those navigating mental health difficulties.
As part of the programme’s new direction, participants will take a more active role in caring for and improving their local green spaces – rediscovering what’s already on their doorstep. At the same time, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will provide direct support to more than 20 community groups, encouraging them to engage with those who may benefit from green-based therapies.
In all, more than 200 people are expected to benefit from the programme, with referrals possible through GPs, partner agencies or self-referral.
Speaking about the announcement, Damian Haasjes, Director of Education and Wellbeing at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said the new funding had come about through collaboration with those who know the service best.
“We worked closely with our participants, our staff, and our partners to shape a programme that genuinely meets local need,” he said. “We’re really pleased with where we’ve landed – a programme that not only supports people in Swindon, but contributes to the wider national conversation around green prescribing. We’re hugely grateful to the National Lottery and its players for their continued support.”
With mental health services under pressure, particularly post-pandemic, this initiative represents a vital and grounded resource for those looking to recover, reconnect, and grow.
The Swindon Wellbeing programme continues to offer a practical and nurturing route into better mental health through nature – a reminder that sometimes, the best help can be found under open skies.
