Award for the Best Nature Based (Green & Blue) Social Prescribing Project - Social Prescribing Awards 2024
In the heart of Bristol, Open Minds Active is making waves with its innovative approach to mental health and wellbeing. This social impact organisation is dedicated to strengthening community ties and creating opportunities for individuals who often find themselves excluded. Their ground breaking initiative, "Wild Swimming for Wellbeing," has been a beacon of hope and connection for many.
Launched four years ago, this blue social prescribing project is the first of its kind in the UK. It invites participants to dive into nature, forming a diverse and inclusive community that supports mental health through outdoor activities. The six-week facilitated program covers essential skills such as acclimatisation, cold water safety, and mindfulness techniques, helping participants build confidence and form lasting friendships.
Baheela*, from Bristol, shares how learning to swim and the cold water has helped her manage her mental and physical health: “All last winter I swam in the ice, and I really love it and I just want to do it for all of my life.
“The cold-water swimming has helped me recover from my underlying health condition, Fibromyalgia. Before this, I have done lots of courses and therapies, but the swimming is the best therapy for me. With fibromyalgia the body is achy all the time, but with the swimming I feel refreshed and energised. I also have depression and the swimming has been very good for that too – it’s amazing.”
Anxiety and depression, the top mental health challenges in Bristol, are a key focus. Collaborating with referral partners and community organisations, Open Minds Active prioritises participants from underserved and vulnerable groups, predominantly working with women from low-income backgrounds, including a significant number from refugee and asylum seeker communities.
Maggy Blagrove, Director at Open Minds Active, said: “The impact of these activities extends beyond the 80 women directly involved each year, positively influencing over 300 families and community members. Participants report reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness, improved coping strategies, and enhanced emotional resilience. Remarkably, many have experienced significant health improvements, such as reduced suicidal thoughts, alleviated chronic pain, and decreased reliance on medication.”
By fostering intergenerational and multicultural understanding, Open Minds Active's wild swimming project not only supports mental health but also builds a compassionate, connected community in Bristol.
*Name has been changed
The 2024 Social Prescribing Awards hosted by the Social Prescribing Network, National Academy for Social Prescribing and the College of Medicine recognise and celebrate the wealth of innovative social prescribing projects and schemes running throughout the UK and internationally.
