Since the Covid 19 pandemic began, the number of young people being admitted to hospital with mental health conditions has outstripped those for physical ailments, according to Prof Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. (Source: Educational Select Committee, 2020)

The Wellbeing In Nature (WIN) project is a response to this crisis. It is designed specifically to address:
• increased loneliness and isolation in the 18-30 age group
• lack of connection to the natural world
• lack of personal tools and strategies to improve resilience and wellbeing
• lack of support for young people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

WIN uses deep nature-connection principles and practices, mindfulness, bushcraft, creativity and wild play to improve participants’ wellbeing and resilience. We also teach practical techniques to build confidence, intuition, self-esteem, a sense of individual identity and community connection.

The money you donate will enable us to create a bursary fund to support low-income students.

All participants in our pilot project reported an increase in individual wellbeing, a greater appreciation of nature and an understanding of how to support their own wellbeing and resilience in future. We want to bring these benefits to more people this year - especially those from low income backgrounds.

About us
Sacred Earth specialises in nature-based programmes for young people. Our flagship course is the Earth Steward Apprenticeship (ESA), which offers a rites-of-passage journey for 50 young people each year.

We have an experienced team of nature connection mentors, coaches and ecotherapists working on this project. Many of our young mentors have done ESA themselves. Our site is large and incredibly biodiverse, so offers participants a unique experience connecting with nature.

WIN is delivered in partnership with Vitality Works (VW). VW is a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including an integrative GP and a health coach, who work with mental health challenges in a holistic way.

Quotes from participants in the WIN pilot project:

“I feel that everyone should be taught the things we have learned. It should be taught in schools. I feel really excited that I can use this knowledge for the rest of my life.” 

“An amazing experience! It was really what I needed, a caring and supportive environment. It help me reconnect to myself, with space to reflect and reconsider my priorities in life.” 

“I left feeling refreshed and a lot more positive than I had been feeling over the past few weeks. I’ve been given a sense of hope that I didn’t have before.” 

“I now have a lot of tools to use and put into practice to help me care for and support myself.” 

"It was amazing how much everyone really listened to each other. I felt very safe and was able to speak about things that I hadn’t before.”

“I learned that it’s ok to open up about your stress and worries. That is who we are."