Welcome to the spring Ecominds update

March 2012

Welcome to our spring Ecominds update. Spring is an exciting time to be oudoors as nature restores some much needed colour to our parks, gardens and allotments. Find out about our plans for this spring with our Ecominds Champions and news from our projects.  

Become an Ecominds champion

Can you spare some time this spring to help spread the word that being active outdoors can make us all happier and healthier?

Being an Ecominds champion is easy. All we’ll ask you to do is leave posters and postcards at some key locations in your neighbourhood.

Your local knowledge can help us bring the ‘Feel better outside, feel better inside’ message to many more people this spring.

Feel better outside, feel better inside

Throughout April and May 2012, the Mind website will feature ideas for some great springtime fun as part of the latest instalment of our 'Feel better outside, feel better inside' poster campaign. Our seasonal photo competition also returns so check our Facebook to find out how to enter.

Our Ecominds projects, local Minds and Mind shops will be joined by a new team of Ecominds Champions will be helping to spread the important message that getting outside and into nature can improve mental health.

Do get in touch if you want posters or postcards.

Fresh funding for Ecominds projects

In January, Mind announced that the Big Lottery Fund had made available £2 million of new funding for existing Ecominds projects. The money will help qualifying projects plan and adapt for the future at a time of uncertainty for the sector. Projects can also benefit from an additional year’s funding where they can demonstrate outstanding practice in supporting people most in need. The application stage has now closed and new awards will be announced in late April.
Read our media release »

Time to Change grants fund now open

Time to Change is funding projects that challenge the stigma surrounding mental health problems by bringing together people who don't have experience of mental health problems together with those who do.

Projects must engage local communities in meaningful conversations about mental health, and they should involve people with first-hand experience of mental health problems with in their planning and development. Some of the funding will be awarded to projects working with Black and Minority Ethnic communities and projects that engage with children and young people.

Be quick - the deadline for applications is 2pm on 30 March.
Visit the Time for Change website to find out more »

Project news: FRP volunteering opportunities

Forest Recycling Project (FRP), an Ecominds funded project in Walthamstow, has a number of opportunities for environmental volunteers. An important feature of FRP’s work is diverting surplus materials from landfill for reuse by the local community. Find out more about FRP’s work and check out the latest vacancies online at the FRP website or email volunteering@frponline.org.uk

Project news: Fresh in Mind on film

London: Mind in Bexley has produced a short film that features their Fresh in Mind Ecominds work. The inspiring film focuses on experiences of service users who have helped to develop a derelict space into a thriving sensory garden. Service users talk enthusiastically about the therapeutic benefits they get from working on the garden.
Watch the film online »

Project news: PoLLeN welcomes royal visitor

London: The Prince of Wales paid a return visit to the Bromley by Bow Centre in east London in February. The prince met a range of workers and local people who use a host of community services at the centre which includes a GP practice and our Ecominds-funded project PoLLeN. As a keen gardener himself, he took a particular interest in PoLLeN’s work which is providing support to people with a range of mental health problems.
Read the full story »

Project news: Care farm is one of Britain’s 50 New Radicals

Norfolk: Ecominds-funded Clinks Care Farm feature in The Observer and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) list of 50 new radicals. These are people or organisations who are changing Britain for the better by applying fresh approaches through social, technological, scientific and artistic methods.
Read the full story »