Gul Outdoor Therapy has been awarded £3,000 funding from Abri to support them in providing outdoor activities to improve the health and wellbeing of young people.
Gul Outdoor Therapy, in Salisbury, offers young people the chance to engage in a variety of outdoor activities, particularly focused around equine therapy. The project is inclusive of all backgrounds and 100% of users agreed or strongly agreed that Gul made a positive impact on their mental health. The funding from Abri will support the ongoing costs of running the activities that they offer.
James Dwyer, Gul Outdoor Therapy, said: “Gul Outdoor Therapy is celebrating its 15th year in 2022 and is a proud to be a part of the community in Salisbury and Wiltshire. Too often large businesses have very little involvement in their communities. So, when we discovered Abri and its work, after attending a local health board set up to support residents in the Stonehenge area, we were thrilled to find out the incredible work their teams do in our area and beyond.
“Gul is a small charity that provides rural outdoor activities with the aim of improving the wellbeing of its users. Gul works with people of all ages and abilities but most of its users are young people with a mental health need. The majority of our work uses horse-based therapies, everything from riding through to simply grooming and spending time outdoors alongside professional caring staff. Gul is also an Alternative Provider of Education and as such works with over 85 schools and councils too.”
The Community Fund is part of Abri’s commitment to empowering lives and creating thriving communities, making them better places to live. Abri is one of the south of England’s largest housing providers and has awarded over £65,000 from its Community Fund to support local organisations and projects since April 2021.
Applications are decided on by its customer panel – Thriving Communities – made up of customers and those living in its communities. Carrie Woods, Chair of the panel, said: “Gul Outdoor Therapy have a very well organised programme and have clearly defined how they will work with local communities. We particularly like that they are promoting being outdoors and away from modern distractions – this is great for young people following all the lockdowns and will help get them away from screens.”
James and the team are passionate about improving mental health in the community. He added: “Abri has been kind enough to fund Gul’s work to improve mental health which will enable us to focus more closely on our work and worry a little less about money for that we are eternally grateful. Thank you!”
Other successful applications for Abri’s Community Fund include:
- Love Outdoors received £2,000 to create a communal garden at Somerset Court, Gosport.
- Mustard Seed Ministries: Personal Choice received £2,726 to help fund their weekly chair exercises at the Oasis Centre for Adults in Portsmouth
- Chard Reservoir LNR Volunteers’ Group received £1,000 to launch two family countryside event days.
- Littlemoor Community Action Group in Weymouth received £1,000 to provide equipment to enable community events in a community centre.
“We believe the best ideas often come from the people who know and lie in our communities. And we’re committed to supporting and investing in our communities. We’re proud of the difference our Community Fund makes, driving change, transforming our communities and providing opportunities. It’s what our Community Strategy and five-year £15m investment is all about – empowering communities, improving health and wellbeing, and providing employment opportunities,” says Cita Jagot, Communities & Involvement Manager at Abri.
Abri’s Community Fund opens for applications four times a year, and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of Abri’s communities. The current application window opened on 1 April 2022 and closes on 20 May 2022.
You can find out more about Gul Outdoor Therapy at www.guloutdoortherapy.org.uk .