Summary
A series of outdoor public events was planned throughout the nine Community Planning areas of Highland to promote this message and then the COVID pandemic put a spanner in the works. The events had to be cancelled for public health reasons and the whole project has to be reconsidered in light of COVID-19. Green Health Home Packs concept emerged as a way to engage people with nature during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, and helped to tackle health inequalities through targeted delivery.
Introduction to the activity and delivery organisation
This is an EU Leader funded project coordinated by High Life Highland Green Health Officer Tania Alliod. Its purpose is to encourage those living in Highland to take small steps to improving their physical, emotional and social wellbeing by connecting with nature and making use of our local green and blue spaces.
With advice from Green Hive Nairn and The Care and Learning Alliance a brief was created for the Green Health Home Packs. Local community groups, charities and organisations were invited to tender to deliver Green Health Home Packs to those living with the greatest health inequalities in their communities. Twelve organisations delivered a total of 3,200 Green Health Packs to individual households across seven Highland Community Planning Partnership.
User / client group
Families with pre-school aged children, Youth Groups; Alzheimers Scotland; Those with Sight Impairment; Those in receipt of free school meals; those shielding at home during COVID19; Adults with Learning Difficulties.
Location
Highland Wide
Outcomes
Voluntary Action Badenoch & Strathspey Chief Officer, Karen Derrick commented;
“This amazing effort has been yet another great example of how collaboration across local third sector organisations and public agencies can achieve something positive for our communities and residents. It is hoped that those households receiving one of these Packs will find the contents stimulating, both physically and mentally, so that it helps to keep people well during lockdown conditions. “
Joy Roberts who lives with a visual impairment received an adapted sensory pack.
“The pot of sensory plants is lovely and I have planted my wild flower seeds in various large containers in my garden and look forward to them growing and blossoming in due course. What a thoughtful pack, I am delighted with the little essential oils!”
Key learning points
- Packs enable connection with nature close to home
- Enable targeted promotion of green health to groups with the greatest needs
- Contents can be tailored to the specific groups needs
- Support and advice can be issued with the packs to ensure wellbeing of the most vulnerable.
- Low cost and no cost activities can be encouraged with the sharing of appropriate guidance and information.
- The offer of a prize draw encouraged people to provide feedback through surveys and forms.
Future plans / next steps
Feedback forms for individuals in receipt of a pack as well as from the organisations delivering the initiative enabled a full evaluation to take place. A further roll out of the scheme is planned in 2021.