Wellness & Nature Leadership

Proposal for Staff Supporting People in their Communities: Developing Nature Leadership - Confidence and Skills

 

Background

There is a proven link between wellness and spending time noticing and moving in nature. There is increasing evidence that it helps to reduce stress, lower obesity levels, increase empathy, reduce crime, increase creativity/brain plasticity, reduce anxiety and create strong relationships/bonds between people and communities.

 

By helping staff who support better wellness for individuals and groups in their communities (e.g. Social Prescribing) to feel more confident to support and challenge others to be in nature more, it is expected that more people will be more well and take more ownership of their wellness.

 

What is the offer?

James Moore has a well evidence highly successful background of helping improve wellness. This includes as part of:

• developing and delivering the innovative Academi Wales programme Explore and Walk;

• supporting partners, communities and individuals to increase their confidence and competence to use nature as part of improving wellness at the University of Wales Trinity St Davids (UWTSD);

• delivering wellbeing walks for Hywel Dda Health Board as part of the Shades of Green project;

 

The approach is summarised in this thought piece. The evaluation and stories of the impact of the projects can be found at https://youtu.be/jHS8mnEo-bI.

 

Specifically, James has supported Neath Port Talbot’s Local Nature Partnership with the Working With Nature Project by helping to engage local communities with nature. Key to this has been creating sustainability through developing and energising local people to become Community Nature Leaders. The highly successful and well evaluated programme has had four key elements:

 

1. Introduction to people and relationships: considering the impact of nature use of psychology; relationship theories explored and made practical/ appropriate for community leadership. Introduction to evidence base about the impact of nature on individuals and groups, and the importance of understanding eco-systems (in self, with others, with nature).

2. Community leadership: leadership and practicing motivation/facilitative styles in practice; exploration of using nature to support deeper connections and wellness.

3. Understanding nature overview: focusing on useful things to know and tools/techniques to help develop nature. This included chemical sampling and animal tunnels. This included being outdoors and in our world class laboratory.

4. Practicing community leadership: group nature walk with each learner preparing and facilitating different aspects. This was used as part of feedback and assessment.

 

This proposal is to support the individuals, teams and groups with appropriate elements of the programme to help increase their confidence and skills to influence people to be in, understand and love their local nature more.

 

Whilst the original programme was delivered over four ½ days, and is being delivered to the Carmarthenshire Social Prescribing Team over 2 full days, it is proposed that the scope and timing of the programme is adjusted to best meet the needs of the participants.

 

 

Programme Outcomes for Participants

By participating in this tailored programme, participants will gain the following outcomes:

- Nature-Based Wellness Confidence

- Deeper understanding of the evidence base linking nature engagement with improved physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.

- Increased confidence through experience nature immersion firsthand, to advocate for outdoor and lead on simple activities as wellness interventions.

- Increased understanding and application of practical tools and techniques (e.g. nature walks, sensory engagement, simple ecological monitoring) to support individuals in connecting with their local environment.

 

Leadership & Group Facilitation Skills

• Increased understanding of people (including self) through exploring relationships and personality dynamics to better understand how to influence individuals and groups.

• Better ability to use motivational and facilitative leadership styles that empower individuals and foster inclusive group environments.

• Increased knowledge understanding and knowledge of strategies for managing diverse personalities, enabling prescribers to get the best out of each participant and build cohesive, resilient community groups.

• Increased confidence of applying leadership skills through practicing leading nature-based sessions, with feedback and reflection to build confidence and competence in real-world settings.

 

Community Development & Engagement

• Stronger skills in community activation, learning how to inspire and mobilise others to engage with nature regularly.

• Increased understanding of the role of nature in building social bonds, reducing isolation, and enhancing community cohesion.

• Increased ability to identify and nurture potential Community Nature Leaders, creating sustainability and ripple effects in local wellness efforts.

 

Personal and Professional Growth

• Enhanced self-awareness and emotional intelligence, particularly in how nature can support personal resilience and reflective practice.

• A larger toolkit of nature-based interventions to integrate into social prescribing pathways.

• Increased sense of empowerment to challenge and support individuals to take ownership of their wellness through nature connection.

 

 

Progressing this proposal

To discuss any aspect of this unique, established and well evaluated Welsh specific offer, please contact James Moore at mortawel999@gmail.com.

 

To find out more about Mor Tawel Consultancy Ltd, please visit:

 

www.mortawel.co.uk

www.linkedin.com/company/mor-tawel-consultancy-limited

www.youtube.com/channel/UCGAEBgrqkD-Dw-s0IMybPLQ