The Fathom Trust

The Fathom Trust promotes a soulful approach to health and wellbeing for people who are socially isolated through illness or adversity. By bringing together landowners, artisans, GPs and Mental Health teams, the charity creates therapeutic communities in places of natural beauty and tranquillity.People are gently led through forty hours of craft making, conservation and contemplation over an eight-week course called ‘Making Well’ where they gain in self-understanding and learn to re-establish connections to their own communities and natural habitats.

Referrals typically come from GPs, Mental Health teams, and local charities and are currently allocated to one of three sites across Powys including Ystradgynlais, Brecon, and Rhayader with support from the Arts Council Wales. Bangor University estimate that this works has a social value of £7.70 for every £1 invested. The University of South Wales is currently undertaking a realist evaluation of this work, which is due to be published in 2025. Fathom uses a similar approach to improve the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals, creating peer groups to offer solidarity and support in the workplace. It is also starting to work with children whose illness or family circumstances mean that they are not receiving a regular education.

Since starting in 2020 Fathom has observed the profound effect that immersion in the natural world has had on the health and wellbeing of people who arrive in various states of distress and disconnection, and the positive effect it has on the healthcare workforce, many of whom have found that applying their skills in a natural setting makes their work more effective. In this way, Fathom is conserving local heritage, reducing the burden on the health workforce, improving natural habitats, and improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. Please see www.fathomtrust.com for more information and for stories of those who have completed the Making Well course.

Article supplied by The Fathom Trust