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Digital Media Course

Would you like to learn how to make short videos in the outdoors? Reconnect in Nature’s Digital Media Workshops are aimed to teach people about mobile photography and filmmaking skills.[…]

AndrewD April 2, 2018 1

Nature Connections and Wellbeing Spring Course

Reconnect in Nature is running a free five week course aimed at improving people’s mental health, wellbeing and confidence. Come join us around the camp fire! The five sessions are[…]

AndrewD March 29, 2018 0

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About Us

Reconnect In Nature is a community interest company that helps people reconnect with their natural environment, reconnect with themselves and create a community that supports each other.

Our Philosophy

Since 2009 as the work of Reconnect has progressed, that which has been hidden has slowly revealed itself. What we have all discovered is that our work follows through 5 simple principles.

Nature

We believe in nature as a healer.

Each Other

We foster peer-to-peer support.

Activity

We facilitate outdoor and creative activities.

Ourselves

We provide space and time for individuals.

Potential

We help boost confidence, skills and outlook.

PROJECTS

Nature Connections and Wellbeing Courses

We’ve worked with over 70 participants on our courses in Pembrokeshire. Many success stories were recorded with participants experiencing significant shifts in their well being and confidence, improvements in social skills, learning new skills, becoming passionate about the activities that they had discovered and some also gaining employment.

MINDFULNESS

We teaching simple mindfulness in nature skills. Connecting to the natural world is at the core of our work.

COMMUNITY

Fostering a supportive group environment, enabling new friendships, and improving communication and teamwork skills.

ACTIVITIES

We help people learn camp craft skills, and enable them to be creative through nature art and nature writing

DIGITAL MEDIA

We train people in simple digital storytelling so we can share our message and boost digital skills.

PROJECTS

The Journey of Understanding

In September 2014, a community project called the “Journey of Understanding” was delivered in partnership with Time to Change Wales and Hywel Dda health trust. It was a two-day walking journey that helped challenge common misconceptions of mental health problems by promoting the skills and positive aspects of people with mental health problems.

watch the video

Projects

Here is a list of other projects we have worked on.

Reconnect Residential

We offer deeper nature experiences and have worked with participants on overnight residential experiences to help them connect even more with their surroundings and each other.

Collaboration

We work and share knowledge with a range of partners in West Wales including Communities First, Clynfyw care farm, West Wales Action for Mental Health, Drop in at the Dock and NHS Wales.

Nature
Connections and Wellbeing 2018

Our Nature Connections and Wellbeing project aims to build capacity for the delivery of a Nature Connections and Wellbeing Course through  four main ways…..
.

It is supported through the Leader Programme in Pembrokeshire.

1. Train the Trainer course.

This course is designed to empower, nurture and train a group of volunteers to become accredited nature connection activity leaders to assist in the delivery of the Nature Connections and Wellbeing course.

2. Nature Connections Toolkit

The Nature Connections and Wellbeing course will be written up, packaged and presented as a tool kit for future delivery.

3. Delivery of the Nature Connections and Wellbeing course during 2018.

The nature connections course aims to introduce participants to the proven therapeutic benefits of engaging in nature based activities and the benefits of peer mentor support. The course will be delivered to communities within Pembrokeshire and will offer valuable opportunities for newly trained volunteer Nature Connection leaders to practice to their new skills and knowledge.

4.Digital Media Training.

A small group of participants will be trained to capture simple digital media images, to capture the essence of the work of each course, enabling the course activities to be shared via digital media.

Nature Connections and Wellbeing has been initially developed as a collaborative partnership project with Reconnect, The Peer Project ( formerly Drop in at the dock recovery centre) and Communities first Pembroke Dock.

Our Team

Our team is a combination of project workers and volunteers.

Andrew Dugmore

Director and Founder

Andrew has considerable experience in outdoor groups, team building, event management, mental health recovery, post graduate mentoring studies and is a mental health first aid trainer.

Mike Erskine

Director

Mike is a filmmaker and photographer who leads on digital media and storytelling side of our work. Mike also has an MSc in Sustainable development.

Our Volunteer Network

Volunteers

We have a group of volunteers who support our work and each other.

Rev. Chris Rees

Director

Chris is very experienced in supporting people in difficulties in his role as a pastor. He has an MA in pastoral studies.

Evidence

In 2014 we undertook an evaluation of our work by speaking to those that have been involved in our courses.

“The organisation offers participants a ‘journey’, enabling each person to progress at their
own pace and in their own way, whether that be into further learning activities, voluntary work, or employment.”

2014 Evaluation Report