The uplifting power of enjoyment of activities in nature, discovering our heritage together nurtures our resilience in the community.
Engaging in re-energising social activity from the onset of a potential dementia empowers individuals and their loved ones to preserve their brain health, combat isolating fears and nurtures sense of identity, of belonging and resilience for years longer.
Desi Gradinarova, Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion Strategy at Historic England and Historic Environment Lead at the National Academy for Social Prescribing, chairs a debate between leaders in social prescribing, culture health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on referral to Heritage and Nature programmes. Elements of nature and a wide variety of exercise in nature explored includes connecting to nature through sensory trails and bird-watching in Australian bush, intergenerational gardening and , volunteering for health and wellbeing in a Dorset men’s shed, Nordic walking and exercise referral, archaeology on prescription in Yorkshire and green prescribing in Greater Manchester.
Speakers:
- Chair: Desi Gradinarova, Senior Policy Advisor, Wellbeing and Inclusion Strategy, Historic England, and Historic Environment Lead for National Academy for Social Prescribing
- Sir Muir Gray, Director, University of Oxford’s Optimal Ageing Programme
- Dr Lucy Loveday, Associate Dean, Faculty Development Innovation and Performance, Health Education England
- Deborah Munt, Regional Champion, Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance
- Katrina Gargett, Community Engagement Officer, Archaeology on Prescription, York Archaeological Trust
- Jules Hammon, Stepping into Nature, Nature Buddies empowering health providers to provide Dorset
- Caroline Gibson, Green Scripts, Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance, Ballarat, Western Victoria, Australia.
- Alistair Tuckey, Durlston Ranger, head of volunteers, education and interpretation, Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve, Swanage.
- Elena Tutton, Health & Activity Lifestyle Activator Place Services, Dorset Council (recording), Wellness Nordic Walking
- Julie McCarthy, Strategic Lead for Live Well & Creative Health at Greater Manchester Combined Authority & GM Health & Social Care Partnership
- Veronica Franklin Gould (VeronicArts and A4D)
SPEAKER DEBATE
The webinar series is produced in partnership with Sir Muir Gray of the Optimal Ageing Programme at the University of Oxford and with Arts 4 Dementia.