Who is this project for?

Young people aged 11-20 who would like to spend time outdoors and take action for nature with a group of young people around their age. The group will be a maximum of 10 young people.

We invite you to take part in the full duration of the project (6 weeks) so that you can enjoy nature connection, crafts, knowledge sharing and creating your environmental action project as a group! If it feels overwhelming to commit to the whole project, please let us know and we can chat through the options as we don’t want this to be a barrier to participation. 

How does this relate to mental health? 

Nature can be a great tool to support our mental health. We can sometimes feel disconnected from the world and ourselves. Spending time in nature can help us feel connected to what surrounds us, ourselves and others, and can create a sense of wellbeing. The project will offer a range of activities, all aimed to support your mental health in different ways – creating a sense of calm and safety, having fun and experiencing joy, exploring your creativity, learning new things, as well as connecting to the natural world and each other. The project will also focus on supporting you to create a youth-led project as a group to help people and nature, which can build confidence and combat eco-anxiety.

What will the programme be like? 

The group will be a mix of young people from Bristol and the surrounding area, so this is a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded young people in a welcoming, safe space. 

Each session will start with a group go-round where you will be invited to share your name, your pronouns and to answer a question (this may be your favourite season, if you could be any animal what would it be etc). Sessions will include nature connection, crafts and games alongside activities to build skills, knowledge, confidence and to support you to create your own environmental action project in OTR’s courtyard garden.

Here is an example of the project outline, delivered in partnership with Action for Conservation as part of their WildED Programme:

• 6 weekly sessions focusing on games, nature connection, crafts and exploring environmental topics including climate change, local nature and art activism
• A series of sessions to support you to design an environmental project 
• Action Days – working on a practical conservation project in the courtyard of OTR’s building in Old Market
• A session to celebrate your project!

Drinks and snacks will be provided. Everything will be an invitation and you will have the choice to not take part in everything.

Any questions? Get in touch with Nicky at nicky.s@otrbristol.org.uk or 07886 869190

Access information:

Sessions will take place on Monday evenings from 4pm to 7pm at OTR, 8-10 Old Market, Bristol BS2 0BH. Sessions will run alongside OTR’s regular Hub drop in session. Session dates are: 31 March, 7 April, 14 April, 28 April, 12 May, 19 May. With the possibility of an extra ‘celebration’ session on Monday 2 June. 

The sessions will take place both indoors and outdoors, so please wear warm clothing and sturdy shoes and bring a waterproof coat. Please contact us if you would like support with any of these items. We will also share specific session information with you so we will let you know if you need to bring anything else.

If you have any questions or would like to talk through anything before signing up, get in touch with our Nature Works Coordinator, Nicky – you can drop her an email (nicky.s@otrbristol.org.uk) or a text (07886 869190). She will get back to you as soon as she can – she works Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am – 5pm.

Who are Action for Conservation?

Action for Conservation (AFC) is a UK-based environmental education and action charity that works with young people from diverse backgrounds, between the ages of 11-20, to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. AFC delivers a range of programmes to inspire and empower young people, including the WildED Programme, Residential Summer Camps, the Ambassador Programme and Intergenerational Action Projects, including The Penpont Project. Find out more about Action for Conservation here: www.actionforconservation.org