In 2024, Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust were delighted to receive a small grant from the Women’s Fund for Scotland to run activities in our local greenspaces to improve: the physical health; mental health; wellbeing; and social networks for women.
The Difference the Women’s Fund for Scotland Has Made
Connecting, Empowering, and Growing Together
Thanks to the invaluable support from the Women’s Fund for Scotland, we have been able to design and offer sessions that have truly benefited the community. Our work has centered on fostering wellbeing and deeper community ties among women while enhancing local greenspaces while, particularly those with early onset dementia and those navigating the perimenopause and menopause.
Each session was carefully designed to meet the unique needs of participants. We began by focusing on building connection within the group—an essential step that laid the foundation for trust and shared experiences. This initial connection paved the way for deeper interactions with our surroundings, where participants could engage meaningfully with the Greenspaces around them.
The second key element was fostering a connection to local outdoor places. We explored the canalside greenspaces, engaging our senses to discover how these places felt to us and what they offered in terms of beauty, calm, and community value. This intentional exploration nurtured a sense of belonging and appreciation for the local environment.
Our third component involved interactive activities with these greenspaces. From identifying plants and trees to collecting herbs from the community herb patch, we embraced hands-on interactions. We tended to each other as we tended to our surroundings, reinforcing a sense of care and stewardship. These activities not only increased appreciation for our greenspaces but also strengthened connections among participants, fostering a powerful sense of community. We looked after the greenspaces in small ways such as deadheading plants, cutting back herbs etc. This showed how small greenspace activities can make a difference and that a lot can be done without specific knowledge or technical tools. This was particularly important to reduce barriers to participation.
The sessions with the early onset dementia women’s group were particularly meaningful. These sessions were carefully tailored to meet the comfort levels and specific needs of the women, ensuring that everyone felt supported and engaged. As we guided the group through outdoor spaces, their experiences were enriched by gentle, mindful interactions with the greenspaces. We took time to pause, explore, and appreciate nature’s small details—whether it was touching the bark of a tree, identifying plants, or simply enjoying the breeze along the canalside.
These simple yet profound activities allowed the women to reconnect with the natural world in a way that felt safe and nurturing- keeping engaged in public spaces and venturing out into environments that are fare to often not dementia friendly is crucial for staying in touch with the outside world. The interactions fostered moments of joy, reflection, and a sense of calm, creating a supportive atmosphere that encouraged participants to share stories and insights. These shared experiences strengthened the group’s bond and reinforced a sense of belonging, demonstrating that even small interactions with nature can have a significant, positive impact on wellbeing and community connection.
Text above and activities planned and provided mainly by our main facilitator, Susanne Mueller.
The Women’s Fund for Scotland was established in 2002.
It plays a critical role in supporting the sector by influencing change and raising and distributing funds throughout Scotland. Our funding focuses on women and girl’s needs identified by grassroots organisations that other funders simply cannot reach.
