Big step forward for social enterprise promoting mental health through walking
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A low impact business that aims to get people out and about has been awarded a share of community cash.
Clarity Walk, a social enterprise dedicated to boosting mental wellbeing in the Highlands, has been awarded £1000-worth of funding from the Cairn Community Fund for its popular No Phone Nature Walks.
Clarity Walk aim to boost mental health and wellbeing by encouraging participants to leave their personal devices behind and share in the joy of nature.
Matt Wallace, co-founder of Clarity Walk said: “The Cairn Community Fund is helping to fund our campaign to reach and help more people in the Highlands improve their mental health.
"These walks give people the opportunity to completely switch off and relax at such a stressful time. Cairn is helping us bring people together in a time that we are isolated.”
Led by trained facilitators, the walks help people to have meaningful interactions with other people in their local community while supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
Cairn Housing Association’s funding award will help to organise and promote the nature walks to the local community.
The grant will also offer tenants referred by Cairn to Clarity Walk, a three-month membership for up to 12 walks a week.
Dedicated to celebrating the power of nature, No Phone Nature Walks are suitable for everyone, from the adventurous to those with mobility restrictions.
Neil Golightly, business services manager for Cairn Housing Association said: “We have been inspired by the passion of community projects that have been in touch with Cairn to see how we can work together. Taking care of our mental health and wellbeing has never been so important and we were delighted to offer our support to Clarity Walk.”
Since it was founded in August 2019, Clarity Walk has helped more than 2000 'walkers' referred through GPs counsellors and mental health charities.
As well as helping people to connect with nature and each other, the organisation also aims to help people return to work after an absence because of poor mental health.
Clarity Walk is one of a range of organisations that have benefited from Cairn Housing Association’s Community Fund.
The national housing provider has operated its Community Fund since 2013 and over this time has committed £60,000 to supporting projects in communities across Scotland.
In April 2020, Cairn relaxed its funding criteria to support emerging grassroots and community projects that were supporting people affected by Covid19.
For more information about Clarity Walk please visit www.claritywalk.co.uk.
