We are seeking funding to purchase equipment which will play a vital role in strengthening and scaling our charity's impact.
Estimated Cost
£16,000
Blue Space Highland is a young but impactful charity dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing through connection with “blue spaces” — our lochs, rivers and coastlines. Over the past two years, Blue Space Highland has developed into a structured programme delivering accessible, preventative mental health support to people across the Highlands.
Our 2025 summer programme demonstrates both the scale of need and the effectiveness of our approach. We supported 117 individuals through activities including paddleboarding, open swimming, kayaking, sea-based creative sessions and wellness experiences such as sound baths and yoga. Crucially, around 80% of participants accessed our services through self-referral, showing that people are far more likely to seek help when it is informal, non-clinical and stigma-free.
The individuals we reached represent some of the most vulnerable in our communities. Referral data shows high levels of anxiety, isolation, depression, trauma, bereavement and caring responsibilities. Almost half of respondents disclosed experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point. Many participants were not engaged with formal mental health services, highlighting a critical gap in early intervention support.
Our model directly addresses this gap. By offering safe, supported access to blue space activities, we enable individuals to take control of their wellbeing in a way that feels empowering rather than clinical. Feedback consistently shows outcomes aligned with national wellbeing priorities: reduced anxiety, increased confidence, improved social connection and a strong sense of calm and achievement. Participants frequently describe feeling “relaxed”, “proud”, “connected” and “safe” following sessions.
Importantly, our work also reaches those who are often considered “hard to engage.” For example, our men-only yoga group has successfully created a supportive environment for men who may otherwise avoid mental health support. Similarly, our work with young people through local schools has helped build resilience, confidence and a desire to continue healthy outdoor activity.
Despite this success, our current model relies heavily on volunteers and short-term funding. This limits our ability to grow, maintain consistency and build the partnerships needed to support participants beyond initial engagement. Demand for our services continues to rise, but our capacity to respond is constrained.
We are therefore seeking funding to purchase equipment which will play a vital role in strengthening and scaling our impact. The equipment will allow us to rely much less on outside businesses for key activities and move us towards a more sustainable funding model including providing wellbeing sessions generating income for the charity.
Investing in equipment will allow us to move from an external-provider reliant model to a more resilient and sustainable organisation. It will ensure that more people can access early, preventative mental health support in a way that is accessible, inclusive and effective and meets our key values and standards.
With the right support, Blue Space Highland can continue to grow as a vital community resource — improving lives, reducing pressure on statutory services, and helping people build lasting connections with both nature and each other.
Blue Space Highland delivers accessible, low- and no-cost blue space wellbeing activities for people experiencing, or at risk of, poverty and trauma. Our programme includes paddleboarding, open water swimming, kayaking, beach yoga and creative sessions, all designed to remove financial, social and psychological barriers to participation.
The people we support often face complex challenges linked to poverty, including isolation, poor mental health, caring responsibilities, bereavement and limited access to affordable activities. Many participants report anxiety, depression and trauma-related experiences, with some having had suicidal thoughts. These challenges are often compounded by stigma and lack of confidence, preventing engagement with traditional or clinical services.
Our approach provides early, preventative support in a non-clinical, welcoming environment. By enabling self-referral and offering supported access to nature-based activity, we give individuals choice, control and a safe space to begin improving their wellbeing. Participants consistently report feeling calmer, more connected and more confident, with increased resilience and reduced isolation.
Our work is strongly shaped by our community. We actively gather feedback through referral questionnaires, post-session evaluation forms and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) scores to measure impact. We also engage informally through social media and ongoing conversations with participants to ensure our services remain responsive and relevant.
Beyond participation, we support longer-term development through our “Blue Journeys” programme. This initiative encourages participants to reflect through journaling, build confidence and, where appropriate, progress into volunteering roles. We support individuals to gain qualifications and embed the NHS Five Steps to Wellbeing—connection, activity, learning, mindfulness and giving—helping them sustain positive change.
By involving our community at every stage, we ensure our work is shaped by lived experience, builds local capacity and creates pathways out of isolation, supporting people to move from need to contribution.
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