Dose of Nature

About Dose of Nature

Dose of Nature is a unique charity used by GPs and specialist agencies to enable patients to bring about significant improvements in their own mental health by helping them engage with nature: our Nature Prescriptions. Last year we received 689 GP referrals for Nature Prescriptions and our results, using the same measurement protocols as the NHS, outperform NHS CBT on every published metric. Quite often, the impact on our clients is absolutely life-changing. What is truly remarkable is that, after an initial assessment by our psychologist, our Nature Prescriptions are delivered by volunteer Nature Guides, who require no therapeutic expertise at all. Their focus, with training, CPD and supervision from our psychologists, is to educate their clients about the scientifically proven benefits of engaging with nature; to help their clients to find their own sustainable way of engaging with nature near where they live; and to offer them simple practices they can use to maximise nature's restorative properties. We are looking to develop our approach into a model which can be used in every community in the UK. The promise is of a model which is local, community-based, low-cost, a permanent resource and highly effective. At the moment, we operate out of two bases in Kew and Guildford and are struggling to keep up with the growing demand for our services : GP referrals increase by an average of 100 per year, which requires us to increase our income by £50,000 each year.

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