Canals on prescription

With many research studies showing that time outside can be a wonderful tonic for our mental and physical health, many people working in the social care, health, and voluntary sectors have been offering opportunities to spend time in green space for some time. Now the Canal & River Trust are getting involved too with ‘social prescriptions’ of activities by water. All designed to help people make friendships, build confidence and improve their health and wellbeing outdoors.

It’s our community wellbeing co-ordinator, Carol Burrell’s job to deliver our programme. “Really it’s about having time for people and getting to know what their concerns are,” reflects Carol when we ask her to define what ‘social prescribing’ is. “To help improve people’s wellbeing, GPs can now refer people to us through a link worker like my colleague, Julie Ellender, who is a community connector for Nottingham City Council. It’s Julie’s job to foster links with organisations like us who can offer wellbeing support.”

As Carol explains, both she and Julie act as that listening ear: “There’s huge variety, but you might have someone who is struggling to cope after they’ve lost a partner. Or you might have someone who’s just lonely and feeling isolated, especially after lockdown. You can’t solve everything for everyone. But you can give them that space to clear their mind and open-up. There’s something about spending time by water that has a positive effect. It releases those endorphins. Gives people clarity, confidence and strength.” When we speak to Julie, she points out: “The activities such as paddleboarding, canoeing, walking tours, or volunteering that Carol coordinates are only the ice-breaker. Over a

four-week course, people who may be isolated and anxious beforehand, come together, make friendships and connect with others. “The paddle instructors are outstanding,” continues Julie. “So patient, kind and understanding, with people who sometimes haven’t been outside their four walls for years. And the confidence people get from the activities really helps them continue to make other big changes in their lives.” Carol and Julie put us in touch with Mark, who is being helped by local social services. He’s eager to tell me how much he’s benefitted by spending time by water. Mark tells us: “I’m very intelligent. I have a BSC (Hons) in environmental science. And I’m a songwriter too. But I have big highs and big lows. I find being outside really helps me. I like the canal for the tranquillity.

It’s timeless isn’t it?

I call the canal the ‘lungs of society’.”

Others in the group have taken to the water so well, they are now planning to take on more responsibility and volunteer as canal rangers, looking out for problems on the towpaths. And as Carol explains, there are many more people living in the heart of the city that she wants to reach.

“Part of my remit is to work with people across all communities and ethnicities in Nottingham who have been affected by Covid-19. I would like to see the diversity of the city reflected on our towpaths and I want to support people to access the activities they can take part in. If this last year has taught us anything, it is that being outdoors is good for us. I’m a very strong and motivated person. A professional fitness coach. But even I stopped exercising for a time. But fortunately, I got my mindset right and got moving again. And that’s what I want to pass on to everyone. Share my knowledge about keeping active and getting outside and getting some of that vitamin D into your body, which is so good for your wellbeing.”

“There’s something about the stillness of water that has a positive effect.” “The activities such as paddle boarding, canoeing, walking tours, or volunteering that Carol runs are only the ice-breaker.”