Health benefits of conservation
The Conservation Volunteers
Green Gym supports the 5 ways to wellbeing, connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.
Research shows that:
- Anxiety drops by 26% - Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS)
- Wellbeing scores improve by a fifth - Office for National Statistics (ONS)
- All participants (n=91) surveyed during the current National Evaluation agreed that taking part in Green Gym has benefited their mental health, boosting self-esteem and confidence through learning new skills and completing new tasks
- Green Gym provides moderate physical activity: People who are regularly active at this level are 50% less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke than inactive people
- Green Gym reduces social isolation
- Being physically active in green spaces can relieve stress and can help to combat depression
- Taking part in the Green Gym improves muscle strength, which is particularly important for older people, helping to maintain independence in later life
- Participants in Green Gym report feeling fitter and having more energy than before
- Almost a third more calories can be burnt in an hour of some Green Gym activities than in doing a step aerobics class
The value of Green Gym to society has been demonstrated through accreditations, independent research by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and independent reports:
- Green Gym has a Social Return on Investment (SROI) measure of £4.02 of social value per £1 invested
- Over 80% of volunteers feel closer to people in their local area.
- The personal benefit for individual, regular volunteers is worth over £4,600 in social value.
To search for a Green Gym near you, click here. To search for your nearest volunteering opportunity, follow the link - www.tcv.org.uk.