Chichester Forest Schools CIC
People: Improving people’s mental wellbeing
We would like to provide woodland wellbeing sessions, enabling fun, healing and growth for children and adults in our community who are impacted by poor mental health, trauma and low income.
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About this cause
Our community forest school believes in learning through nature, inspiring the next generation, making connections, and promoting wellbeing and community through spending time in local wild spaces. We offer outdoor learning experiences in a variety of local woodland and beach settings for school children, young people, vulnerable adults, and families in Chichester and the local area. We lead and develop programmes to support these groups, including children and families on a low income, with emotional and learning needs to give them life skills, confidence, and a greater ability to connect with nature. We aim to develop wellbeing programmes through connection with nature for all ages who have been impacted by trauma, poor mental health, SEN, food poverty and chronic illness.
How this cause brings people in the community together
Since our inception five years ago, Chichester Forest Schools CIC has dedicated itself to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our community. Annually, we serve approximately 1600 children and adults through our various programmes, which provide the opportunity to connect with nature, experience the joy of being outdoors, learn about woodland ecology, and develop woodland craft and bushcraft skills. Our specialist forest school leaders have qualifications in counselling and mental health first aid, providing support for those in our community who have suffered trauma, abuse, poverty, isolation and anxiety. We would like to apply for funding to purchase tools and resources for these sessions and to pay for leaders to directly deliver wellbeing sessions for children and adults.