1. © The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities Julia Duncan – Business Development Manager, The Conservation Volunteers
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2. Background Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Background
TCV disability partner consultation – Jan - July 2014
Pilots with key partners including RNIB, Cornerstone, ENABLE
Greenability Conference - Oct 2014 – 130 attendees, joining up disability and environmental organisations
Partner event with Sense Scotland, ENABLE, Donaldsons School for the Deaf
Led to established TCV network of disability organisations
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3. Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Our approach to developing nature based programmes for people with disabilities: all about partnership and listening to staff and service users.
KEY to:
understanding needs of people with disabilities and resourcing projects eg staff support
understanding barriers and challenges for people with a range of disabilities eg. BSL signer, sighted guiding
Understanding Scottish context eg. One million
people in Scotland are disabled
Understanding need relating to: mental health, transport, physical health, social exclusion, fewer opportunities re education & employment.
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4. Who are we working with and what have we been doing?
Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Who are we working with and what have we been doing?
Established key partnerships
Run pilot projects to test activities for people with different disabilities and needs
Pilots consist of short 1-3 hour sensory nature based sessions
Run environmental training for partners
Run disability training for TCV staff
and external orgs
Run events to share good practice
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5. © The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Sense Scotland – nature walks and sensory activities for people with multiple sensory deprivation eg Deafblind
Sense Scotland
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6. © The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Caledonia Clubhouse– nature walks and forest skills for people with mental health problems
Sense Scotland
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7. © The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Deaf Action – nature play for children/families with hearing impairment
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8. Scottish Autism – Citizen Science and forest skills
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Training
Scottish Autism – Citizen Science and forest skills
Training
Citizen Science Workshops for SA staff
Autism training for TCV staff
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9. ENABLE – nature play for children with learning difficulties
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Training
ENABLE – nature play for children with learning difficulties
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10. © The Conservation Volunteers 2016
RNIB/iWomen – nature walks and sensory activities for sight loss and visual impairment
Sense Scotland
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11. Key Activities Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Key Activities
Nature play
Citizen Science/Bio recording
Forest Skills / outdoor cooking
Nature walks
Enviromental art and craft
Conservation
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12. What have we learnt? Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
What have we learnt?
The benefits of nature based exploration and discovery for children and adults with disabilities are huge. Key impacts include: improved sleep, reduced stress, reduced isolation and improved mental health.
To be flexible and adapt to need
To listen and tailor activities to need
To train our staff and encourage disability sector orgs to train theirs
The importance of tea and bisuits!
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13. Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
2015 Awards – TCV won Innovation Award at RSPB’s Nature of Scotland Awards Nov 2015 and finalist for Collaboration Award at Guide Dogs Association Annual Awards Dec 2015.
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14. Income for pilots projects
Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
Income for pilots projects
SNH – 2015/16 Exploring Nature programme (&FCS)
SNH Accessibility theme focusing on work with autism and visual impairment/merge with midweek activity
FCS – 2014 Winter Woodlands £9K,
FCS – 2015 – Exploring Nature - £4580
RSMcDonald Trust(£18K/2 years), SG – (£14K/2 years)
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15. 2016 Key achievements & next stages
Exploring Nature with People with Disabilities
© The Conservation Volunteers 2016
2016 Key achievements & next stages
Established Jupiter as hub for people with disabilities through Falkirk Environmental Trust (£38k) – food growing and woodland. Started Sept.
Building on key partnerships eg Sense Scotland, Deaf Action
Partner with Heritage Lottery for event to showcase “natural heritage” work to date (7 Nov)
Successful HLF applications – Young Roots (£50K) for partnerships with Glasgow Disabled Scouts and Stories Stones and Bones (£9.5k) for work with Deaf Action
HLF Our Heritage (£10-100k) – to develop Jupiter hub
TCV staff disability training investment
Promoting our USB and leadership in this field
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