Get out into the fresh air as part of exciting new training course

Local social entrepreneur John Matthews is launching a unique pilot scheme with mentla health charity MIND.

Matthews, founder of Oldham-based social training company ‘Dog with a Bone’, has teamed up with Tameside and Oldham MIND to pilot a new training course.

The course, which uses outdoor activities such as drystone walling as a form of mindfulness, is aimed at those who could benefit greatly from being active outside in the fresh air.

Matthews said: "I was recently involved in some local activity with Community Connector David McCallion and I told him about our ambitions.

"David said that ‘the sooner you can give this course away to people that really need it, the better.’

"A few months later and we are on our way to fund this fantastic opportunity.

"To be able to give the course to those that will benefit most, however, we need some proper funding.

"So far all the social improvement work we have done has been paid for by our parent company, Bigger Picture.

"I could see the potential for the teaching of being outside and drystone walling, an activity that requires focus, concentration and an ability to see things through, to be able to help those suffering from anxiety, stress or worse.

"It was very obvious to me.

"When we looked at it with MIND we could not believe just how relevant this activity is with regards to well being.

"It ticks every box."

Jenny Bates, from MIND, added: "Learning to drystone wall, an activity that cannot be rushed, outside in the fresh air, amongst nature, really does tick every box for helping improve mental health."

Matthews continued: "I have suffered from stress in the past and at the time you do not realise it.

"No matter what anyone says you cannot see it.

"I saw the therapeutic effects building walls in the traditional dry stone has first-hand.

"It seemed an obvious thing to me as soon as I did it, being outside in the quiet, getting lost listening to nature.

Dog with a Bone, based in Dobcross, have offered the chance to try an introduction to mindfulness alongside their drystone walling courses for some time."

For further details on the course, contact Dog with a Bone on 0161 234 0099 or log on to: http://www.big-pic.co.uk/dog-with-a-bone/home.html