Zero Hero
How Tammie sourced funding for a nature-based therapy group
Trust: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Brighton
Name and role: Tammie Cook, SMILES Liaison Nurse
What did Tammie do?
Tammie first became a Care Without Carbon Envoy, supporting the Trust in promoting behaviour change, and taking that role further, has actively set up a nature-based therapy group for service users in her care. She persistently sought out funding to make this possible and did not top trying until she achieved her aim.
With funding her patients will have access to Bevendean Community Garden, which has woods, a firepit with seats around it, areas to do gardening, a pond and the South Downs behind it to really open up the potential of connecting with nature for health and mental well-being.
Why it matters?
“While I’m passionate about the environment in my personal life I hadn’t really thought too much about bringing a sustainable lifestyle into the office until I saw Care Without Carbon. It’s made me think about how to reduce the carbon footprint of our services and make them more sustainable, from transport, energy, recycling, waste etc.”
We know that taking care into green spaces has huge benefits, especially in the area of mental health. Tammie wanted to create an opportunity to improve the recovery process by setting up a nature based therapy group as many people in urban areas will not come into regular contact with nature.
Why Tammie is a Zero Hero
Tammie demonstrates that anyone can create change through their professional role.
She selected a natural location easily connected to an urban city, with bus links to further enhance the carbon savings.
In her role as an Envoy she also fronted a campaign to promote staying hydrated at work, using a refillable water bottle, which over 120 people committed to supporting.
