Access to Nature and Public health

Stepping Stones to NatureA Plymouth Case study

Zoe Goss

SS2N Coordinator

Project Aims

Delivered through:• Community Engagement• Quality improvements • Improved communications• Organisational change • Research programme

SS2N is a four year partnership project which aims to get more people engaging positively with

nature to improve health and well being

Measuring success• Evidence of increased use of

sites• Testimonies of improved

quality of life• Demonstration of more

collaborative approach to working

Site based physical access workOver £400k invested to improveaccess to 6 sites across Plymouth

Site Based Community Engagement

• Regular site based activities and events with residents, schools and youth groups

• Simple activities / Self guided trails• Using partner organisations to keep it fun and creative• Capacity building through survey / walk leader training• Schools programme

Targeted City Wide Engagement

• ‘It has given me confidence to organise things…I think more about walking for short trips with my family now’ ‘I have noticed that the parents are more aware of risks and low level parenting skills as a result.

• ‘people reported they slept more soundly, the activity stopped them thinking about their problems’ ‘Talking to members of the public helped raise the confidence of the women to integrate within the wider community’

• ‘I feel safe talking about how I feel with people in this group’ ‘I’m more adventurous’

• ‘There has been an improvement in 3 of the children’s attendance levels; 3 parents are now members of our gardening club; parents are more confident to discuss school matters; children have become responsive to experiencing new foods and helping prepare dinner’

Learning• Simple access improvements• Project led by staff skilled in

community development• Keep it fun, creative and

meaningful• Project embedded in City

Council’s wider strategies• Opportunities to take a risk• Breadth of partners and

partnership buy-in• Individuals count• Regular reports demonstrating

impact, celebrating success and valuing partnership

Challenges ahead• Embedding new ways of

working• Ongoing maintenance• Keeping up the

partnerships, maintaining the momentum

• Project legacy?

Opportunities for the future• Maximise the impact of capital

improvements• Developing our evidence base• Engaging better with Health • Build on what works:

Embedding Change Partnership Programme

• Get better at telling our stories!