Stepping Out
Action Research Projects:
In 2004 Natural England funded 4 Action
Research Projects (ARP's) as part of Defra's Diversity Review. The
projects' aims were to investigate minority groups and their
engagement with the natural environment. The ARP's demonstrated
different ways that black, Asian and minority ethnic groups,
disabled people, people from inner city areas and young people
could access and engage with the natural environment.
A summary and case study has been created
for each project which explain the successes and lessons that have
been learnt. One finding that stood out is that rather than simply
encouraging friendship, increased understanding creates better
cohesion between communities.
A more detailed summary of Natural
England's ARP's can be downloaded here (pdf)
Stepping Out:
The Stepping Out project supports informal
carers of people suffering from mental ill health and those they
care for, by helping them explore and discover green spaces and the
countryside in and around Coventry.
This 3 year funded project began in August
2004 as a partnership between the Trust, the Coventry Carers Centre
and the Asian Mental Health Access Project (AMHAP). The project
subsequently received sponsorship from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors to
continue for an additional year and we are now pleased to announce
that the Trust has been successful in securing funding from the
Co-op Community Fund which will enable the project to continue to
run, although on a smaller scale.
The remaining group meets monthly on a
Friday and invites participants to visit local places of interest,
take short walks and explore the countryside and green spaces of
Warwickshire. Those suffering from mental ill health are welcome to
attend with their carer if they are able.
There is no cost to participate in the
group and a minibus pickup is available from Coventry City
Centre.
Walking is thought to be beneficial both to
physical and mental health and wellbeing. If you care for someone
suffering from mental ill health in Coventry and would like to find
out more about how you can get involved we would like to hear from
you.
When the Stepping Out visits resumed
in October last year, one of the group who has been involved since
the beginning of the project began submitting diary entries. To see
what the group have been up to recently please follow the diary entries
here.
For further details please contact:
Peter Thorne, Urban Living Landscape
Officer on 024 7630 2912 or peter.thorne@wkwt.org.uk
The Natural England Case Study Summary of
the Stepping Out Project can be downloaded here
(pdf)
For details of the other ARP case studies
please see:
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/outdoorsforall/diversityreview/actionresearch/default.aspx
