Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind and Middlesbrough Environment City, a charity promoting sustainable living, are working together to provide an exciting project called Out and About.

The Out and About programme can provide you with the chance to take part in a wide range of outdoor activities and events.  Whether you want to help to restore a park or public space or if you simply prefer to take a quiet stroll along a beach, in a park or in the country, the Out and About project can help to:

• Lift your mood
• Reduce you stress levels
• Expand your social circle
• Get you more involved in your local community
• Learn new skills
• Improve local areas for you and other members of the public

If you have ever experienced stress, anxiety, depression or any other mental health issues then Out and About might be for you.

Getting Involved

You can get involved with the Out and About project in many ways.  These include:

• Being involved in gardens or growing fruit and vegetables
• Exercise and health events such as bike rides and health walks
• Helping to recycle, reuse and reduce waste
• Helping to repair and restore green spaces such as parks and becks
• Helping to promote and campaign about mental health and green issues

Support

Anyone who wants to join the project will get help and support from the Out and About support worker.  The support worker will work with you and keep you informed of any activities or events that are taking place and help you to get involved in activities that suit you.  The support worker will also make sure you have any training that you need to take part safely.

Who can take part?

Out and About is open to anyone over the age of 16 who lives in Middlesbrough or Stockton or their surrounding boroughs and who has experienced stress, anxiety, depression or any other kind of mental health distress.

For more information, please contact:

Out and About Project Support Officer

Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind

The Mind Centre

90-92 Lothian Road

Middlesbrough

TS4 2QX

Tel: 01642 257020

Email:  jim.woods@middlesbroughandstocktonmind.org.uk

We are please to announce that the Out and About project is the runner up of the 'One Planet Living Award 2011'.  Some photographs are attached here of Jim Woods, Out and About Project Support Officer, and Stephen Grimston, one of Jim's volunteers.