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  1. Home
  2. Green Gym®
  3. Health Benefits
People enjoying a Green Gym

Health Benefits

Green Gym supports the 5 ways to wellbeing, connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.

Research shows that:

  • Anxiety drops by 26% – Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS)
  • Wellbeing scores  improve by a fifth – Office for National Statistics (ONS)
  • All participants (n=91) surveyed during the current National Evaluation agreed that taking part in Green Gym has benefited their mental health, boosting self-esteem and confidence through learning new skills and completing new tasks
  • Green Gym provides moderate physical activity: People who are regularly active at this level are 50% less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke than inactive people
  • Green Gym reduces social isolation
  • Being physically active in green spaces can relieve stress and can help to combat depression
  • Taking part in the Green Gym improves muscle strength, which is particularly important for older people, helping to maintain independence in later life
  • Participants in Green Gym report feeling fitter and having more energy than before
  • Almost a third more calories can be burnt in an hour of some Green Gym activities than in doing a step aerobics class

The value of Green Gym to society has been demonstrated through accreditations, independent research by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and independent reports:

  • Green Gym has a Social Return on Investment (SROI) measure of £4.02 of social value per £1 invested
  • Over 80% of volunteers feel closer to people in their local area.
  • The personal benefit for individual, regular volunteers is worth over £4,600 in social value.

 Green Gym accreditation

  • Health and Wellbeing Award 2015-18 – Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)
  • Level 2 Award 2016 – Nesta Standard of Evidence

More detailed research findings are available here

People have many different reasons for joining their local Green Gym.

Whatever the reason for choosing the Green Gym, everyone is welcomed into their local group. Find your nearest Green Gym and contact them to see how you can get involved.

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