There has been recognition for Countrymen UK, based at the Future Roots Care Farm in Dorset, as they have scooped two awards over a short time by winning the Markel Third Sector Award in London in December. This follows the organisation’s national award in Sustainable Health Care under the category Care & Clinical Practice in October.
Countrymen UK won the category of “Contribution to Sector Development Award” at The Markel 3rd Sector awards for the work it has done in supporting men in their local community who live with various health conditions or have become isolated due to their social situation. The award was presented by Esther Rantzen.
Countrymen UK offers an alternative to the traditional day care services by providing opportunities for men to carry out meaningful, therapeutic activities in farm and outdoor environments.
Real choice
The Countrymen UK Group members are supported and enabled to carry out activities of their choosing, giving them purpose and feelings of inclusion while working with likeminded men who have an affinity with the outdoors.
Countrymen UK has been awarded funding by the National Lottery’s Accelerating Ideas program when it was identified as a successful model to offer to other care farms and outdoor environments around the UK and Northern Ireland.
The aim of the project is for more men to have access to this alternative service around the country.
Proven positive impacts
Julie Plumley, Director of Countrymen UK at Future Roots said, “We are thrilled to have won this award. It highlights our work and the impact we are making to men in both our local communities and nationally. Historically, social care has found it difficult to engage with men so, having a model that is proven to have positive impacts is fantastic.
“We want to share this with others and we hope that by winning these awards it will help the NHS, public health and CCG’s to think about the benefits of green care when it comes to social prescribing or when looking for suitable and effective provision to improve the health and wellbeing of people living throughout the UK.”
