CLA Charitable Trust grant benefits Cumbria-based charity

This funding assisted in the Mind in Furness’ project enabling participants, 12 per session, to connect with the countryside, learn about its special flora and fauna as well as its traditional woodland industries, and positively contribute to the land’s management. The project aim is to help overcome social isolation, learn new skills, build personal resilience and improve wellbeing.

The activities, with the help of funding, have run from April this year, and have been a mix of nature wellbeing sessions (run by a qualified psychotherapist) and woodcraft activities (run by a qualified forest ranger).

The clients have particularly enjoyed learning new skills via the greenwood activities including whittling, ash splitting and smoothing. As part of the project, they built a rustic cabinet from scratch using the skills they are learning which was both hugely satisfying and confidence building.

The CLA Charitable Trust is funded almost entirely by subscriptions from members of the CLA (Country Land and Business Association), an organisation which represents 27,000 farmers, landowners, and rural businesses. The Trust provides grants to charities and community organisations across England and Wales who share its vision to help connect young people who are disabled or disadvantaged with the countryside.

Rusland Horizons and Mind in Furness Full Cycle Project Lead, Marion Brown, said: “We are ever so grateful to the CLA Charitable Trust for awarding us this grant as it has made a huge difference to Mind in Furness’ clients from attending these outdoor woodland-based sessions. In addition, the benefit to the volunteers who support this project should not be underestimated. They have also reported improved wellbeing and mental health, as well as learning new skills themselves.”

CLA Director North Lucinda Douglas said: “I am delighted that the CLA Charitable Trust has been able to support the Rusland Horizons Trust with funding to assist their project with Mind in Furness. They do so much good work in their local community, and it’s very pleasing to think that these grants will help them achieve even more and make a difference to their client profile in the area.”

Bridget Biddell, Chair of the CLA Charitable Trust, said: “The CLA Charitable Trust is dedicated to helping those who are disabled or disadvantaged to visit and participate in learning experiences about the countryside, and last year alone 61 charities and projects received grants totalling nearly £240,000.”

Since its foundation in 1980, the Trust has given more than £2m in grants to a wide variety of organisations and projects. Horticulture sessions, new welly racks and nature trails are among the projects and good causes to benefit from thousands of pounds of funding from the CLA Charitable Trust.

The Rusland Horizons Trust Ltd aims to make a local difference in a changing world. It does this with the local community via practical activities that help to educate about, manage and care for the unique landscape, its habitats and the wildlife of this special part of Lakeland between Coniston Water and Windermere.

Mind in Furness, works proactively and in partnership with statutory and other organisations and individuals: to promote mental health and to improve the quality of life for people suffering from, or with the potential to suffer from, mental distress by providing and encouraging user-led activities and services and to increase awareness of those issues through education and a strong, positive presence in the local community.