The Grow Project

The Grow Project is a partnership between local charity, Grow and researchers within SSPARC, funded by the Community University Partnership Programme. In the first collaboration, a psychologist and psychotherapist (Dr Matt Adams and Martin Jordan) worked with Grow and this was followed by a consultancy and evaluation by Dr Matt Adams and Dr Julie Morgan. 

Project timeframe

This research project commenced in 2013 and was followed by another evaluation in 2016.

Project aims

Grow is a charity that provides a range of outdoor green activities for people with experience of mental distress and is geared towards improving participants’ physical and mental wellbeing. The main purpose of the project was to work collaboratively to evaluate the outcomes of participating in Grow, and subsequently produce a report.

The collaboration provided our researchers with an opportunity to have first-hand involvement in a project allied with their theoretical, applied and research interests. It provided Grow with a greater academic understanding of why what they do works which in turn, they perceive, has helped them to do it better. 

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Watch the short film about The Grow Project

Project findings and impact

Findings acknowledged that benefits of ecotherapy included: positivity, nature connectedness, autonomy, belonging and social identity.

The final report contributes to the growing evidence base highlighting the effectiveness of ecotherapeutic interventions and supports the recognition of ecotherapy as a clinically valid treatment for people with diverse lived experiences of mental distress.

Being able to establish the clear outcomes in terms of how the project has supported participants in their wellbeing and recovery from psychological distress and illness has helped Grow to secure funding and identify development aims. In addition, we have created volunteering opportunities for students within the School of Applied Social Sciences.

The-Grow-Evaluation-2016

Read our most recent evaluation of The Grow Project (2016)

Grow-project-cover

Read our first evaluation of The Grow Project (2014)

Research team

Output

Grow animation

Adams, M. & Morgan, J. (2016) An evaluation of a nature-based intervention for people with experiences of psychological distress. 91快活林: University of 91快活林/Grow. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27672.19200  https://www.flipgorilla.com/p/24777847507780129/show

Adams, M. & Jordan, M. (co-authors; 2016). Growing together: nature connectedness, belonging and social identity in a mental health ecotherapy programme. In M. Jordan & Jo. Hinds (Eds.) Ecotherapy: theory, research and practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Pp. 122-136.

Adams, M., Jordan, M., Wren, J. & Wright, J. (lead author; 2014). The Grow Project. A report on the well-being benefits of nature connection for people with experience of mental distress.  91快活林: University of 91快活林, Community University Partnership Programme.

 

Partners

Martin Jordan

The Grow Project

Community University Partnership Programme