Building Green Pathways for a Healthier Wales
Down to Earth has been successful in bidding for £140,000 to help young people in Southeast Wales rebuild self-esteem and confidence through creating green hospital infrastructure.
The ‘Building Pathways’ project will support some of Cardiff and the Vale’s most disadvantaged young people to improve health, well-being, and education opportunities, bringing them closer to employment or further study.
Developed from 12 years of research, the project delivers life-changing meaningful outdoor experiences where participants undertake activities such as path building, tree planting and building structures using natural Welsh materials. They are provided with support towards employment or further study and the opportunity to gain a qualification.
Director and Co-founder of Down to Earth, Mark McKenna, said: ‘we’re excited about this new project that will support young people in improving their health and well-being while having a great time. At the same time, they are helping to develop an amazing space for patients, staff and the local community at University Hospital Llandough.’
The Building Pathways Project is aimed at young people aged 16-24 living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan and who are not in education, employment, or training.
Programmes can be delivered either on Down to Earth’s project site, or alternatively on community projects’ own sites throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
One site on offer is ‘Our Health Meadow’ next to University Hospital Llandough, where the programmes will help to create an outdoor healthcare and rehabilitation facility within 14 acres of woodland and meadow next to the hospital.
If you are a referral agency with participants who might want to join the programme, or an individual who would like to refer themselves, then please get in touch.
Programmes will last around six weeks or can be delivered more intensively to suit throughout 2021 and 2022.
The programme is funded by the European Social Fund delivered by the Welsh Government and managed through WCVA’s Active Inclusion Fund.
Down to Earth is a not-for-profit organization that delivers health & wellbeing programs to hard-to-reach groups from across South Wales, using the medium of Sustainable construction, land management and outdoor adventure activities.
For more information please contact Chris Dow on 01792 232439 at chris@downtoearthproject.org.uk or visit our website: