Ecominds

Applications are now closed.

Ecominds is a grant programme which helps people with experience of mental distress get involved in local environmental projects that improve mental and physical health.

Ecominds is run by Mind as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund, as part of their Changing Spaces Programme. Please note that the deadline for small grant bids has now passed, at 12 noon on Friday 30 April 2010, and Ecominds will no longer be receiving applications for funding.

The programme has £7.5 million which it will distribute to around 125 new and existing projects in England. We believe that Ecominds projects are highly effective in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues and help create a society that treats people with experience of mental distress fairly, positively, and with respect.

Ecotherapy and Ecominds

Find out more
Mental health and the environment

Read our report
Ecotherapy: mental health and the environment

Ecominds projects promote ecotherapy - work and experiences in outdoor environments. There is growing evidence that green exercise provides great benefits for health and well-being. Read some of our success stories here.

Examples of projects

Community horticultural and agricultural projects
Walking and rambling groups
Wildlife habitat or other site creation or renovation
Clearing open spaces for community use
Graffiti removal projects
Environmental protection (such as rebuilding a flood plain)
Creating or renovating urban green areas (such as 'Adopt-a-Space' schemes whereby a group adopts, maintains, improves, and makes accessible a specific location)
Installing signposts to encourage community environmental awareness (such as clear signs in the countryside for ramblers)
Recycling projects, such as furniture, glass, and white goods (for example, reclaiming discarded furniture and doing it up to sell)
Community agricultural projects linking gardeners and producers with local selling opportunities
Producing artwork in public places and in enclosed spaces (for example, mosaics in parks, sculpture in hospitals)
Exchange schemes giving opportunities to experience and learn about other environments and community activity
Learning new environmental skills (such as making garden furniture, dry stonewalling, thatching)

What's new?

To date, Ecominds has awarded 75 grants close to £6 million in total. Find out what else is new at Ecominds.

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