Wiltshire Wildlife Trust secures National Lottery funding

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust been awarded just over £450,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, to support a further four years of its Swindon Wellbeing programme.

This continued support underscores the Trust's long-standing commitment to harnessing the power of nature to improve mental health and wellbeing across the county.

For over 15 years, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has been at the forefront of connecting people with nature for therapeutic benefits. The National Lottery Community Fund has been a crucial partner in these endeavours, and this latest funding will ensure the Swindon Wellbeing programme can expand its vital work.

The enhanced programme will build upon its successful foundation of supporting adults with mental health needs. A key development for the project will be a greater focus on empowering participants to re-engage with their local communities. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will collaborate closely with local groups in Swindon, providing them with the support and resources needed to work effectively with adults experiencing mental health challenges. Furthermore, the programme will actively involve participants in improving their local green spaces and discovering the nature on their doorsteps.

This substantial four-year funding package will enable the programme to provide support to over 200 individuals and engage with more than 20 community groups. Referrals to the programme can be made by GPs, other partner organisations, or through self-referral.

Damian Haasjes, Director of Education and Wellbeing at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said: "We are incredibly excited about this funding. We worked with our participants, partners and staff to consider how we can help more people improve their wellbeing through connecting with nature in Swindon.

“We think this programme is a great response to that question and will not only help people in Swindon but the learning from the programme will help shape green prescribing nationally. We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery and its players for their continued commitment to our work.

“This continued investment from The National Lottery Community Fund will allow Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to deepen its impact in Swindon, fostering stronger communities and improving the mental health of residents through the profound benefits of nature engagement.”