Together Co is delighted to be a partner of the Green Wellbeing Alliance (GWA) to offer Nature Buddies to local people who want to build up confidence to get out and about in nature. 

Nature Buddies are volunteers trained by Together Co that can accompany and support people in Brighton & Hove to engage with therapeutic outdoor activities. 

If you know someone who’s interested in the service. We ask for the following information  

• • The person’s name, age, address and contact number  
  • A summary of the support required 
  • Information on which GWA project they would like to attend 
  • Anything the Buddy needs to know that would help them be sensitive to the person’s situation.

A link worker from Together Co Social Prescribing will work with the person to agree which outdoor activity they would like to attend, and what practical support they need from a buddy volunteer.  

Together Co will arrange  an appropriate volunteer buddy match to support the person to attend the outdoor activity. The number of supported sessions is agreed, this is typically around 4-6 sessions.  

 The buddy volunteer will make contact with the person to introduce themselves and to arrange a time and place to meet. They will then support the person for the agreed number of sessions to attend the activity.  

 The buddy volunteer reports back on progress and Together Co aims to check in with all buddy clients within 2-4 weeks of the buddy service ending. 

 Please note that we cannot offer transport or mobility support.  

Our buddies will have ID cards showing that they are from Together Co that they can show to the person they are supporting. 

To access our Nature Buddies service, please  email socialprescribing.togetherco@nhs.net with the title Nature Buddies. You can also call on 01273 229 002 and leave a message.  

 Helen’s Story 

Helen was referred to Together Co Social Prescribing because she was feeling extremely lonely and isolated. She wanted support to find appropriate groups and activities to attend where she could meet others. Helen told us she had an interest in gardening, so her link worker suggested Plot 22, a community allotment. Helen felt anxious about attending Plot 22 on her own, so we arranged for our Buddy Service to match her with a volunteer Nature Buddy to accompany her. 

The buddy volunteer called Helen to introduce themselves and arrange a time and place to meet. They agreed to meet at the bus stop and travelled to Plot 22 together. The buddy volunteer also joined in with the session, giving Helen the confidence to engage with a new activity, and talk to other attendees.  

 Helen really enjoyed trying out Plot 22 and is looking forward to going back to further sessions.