Lochbroom Pilots Green Health Steps To Sustain Wellbeing
Ullapool Families celebrate funding to support wellbeing through nature connection this Green Health Week
Families in the Ullapool High School Catchment area are set to benefit from £87,000 funding to support family wellbeing through nature connection. The money will support a two year project called ‘Stepping Stones’, aimed at improving wellbeing through pathways into nature-based activities.
The Whole Family Wellbeing Programme is a national initiative aimed at supporting a range of services to help families meet their individual needs, to thrive and to stay together. In Highland, the fund sits within the structure of the Integrated Children’s Service Planning Board and the Highland Community Planning Partnership. The Ullapool Stepping Stones project is the first to receive funding through Element 2: Collaborative Partnership Locality funds.
Jennifer Baughan, Programme Manager, commented:
“The Whole Family Wellbeing Programme is delighted to be able to support the work of the Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust, together with their partners to deliver the Ullapool Stepping Stones project. The project meets significant aims of the Whole Family Wellbeing Programme to ensure that our funding supports community based initiatives that provide wellbeing activities for our families in Highland, to improve wellbeing, tackle isolation and to provide advice and support at an early stage to avoid crisis. This project shows how partnerships and innovative approaches can be achieved at a community level when we all come together with a shared aim”
A mission to achieve better mental and physical health for all has been developed through extensive consultations led over the past year, by the Lochbroom & Ullapool Community Trust (LUCT), in partnership with NHS Highland. Improved community health and wellbeing is a core LUCT ambition.
Mamta Patel, Chair of LUCT said:
“Lochbroom is treasured for its inland and coastal lochs, hills, mountains and paths. But while these are used by many, not all are able to access the improved mental and physical wellbeing opportunities offered. We are delighted and grateful that the Whole Family Wellbeing Programme has recognised the contributions our natural assets can make to our wellbeing”.
Ailsa Villegas, Health Improvement Specialist within the NHS Highland Health Improvement team states that:
‘Time in nature can help to keep us healthier for longer, can build communities of support and enhance our physical and mental wellbeing. This project will trial community supported pathways into nature that will support existing healthcare led pathways. As such, we hope to reach more people and, through training, advice and support, and to provide early intervention should crisis occur.’
The project will be evaluated with support from the University of Highlands and Islands. This hopes to demonstrate how such a model could support healthcare-led pathways for treatment and care. The lessons learned will be shared with other communities.
Local GP Katie Walter states:
‘At the heart, most social determinants of health don’t have a medical solution,
but a social one: connection, support, skills development, contact with our natural
environment, access to educational resources, all these are small steps to
increase the health and happiness in our community, and tighten our social
connections and the web that supports us all.’
Footnote: This week is Green Health Week 3rd-11th May 2025 with a Theme of Nature is for Everyone. More information can be found at www.thinkhealththinknature.scot
The Whole family Wellbeing Website is: https://highlandcpp.org.uk/whole-family-wellbeing-programme/
