Forest Bathing Walk Leader (Bromley)

What will you be doing?

The volunteer will play a key role in helping ParkBathe establish its new Bromley Green Social Prescribing pilot (commencing autumn 2026) as a trusted, high-quality local offer. A key responsibility will be to train up as a ParkBathe Forest Bathing guide and lead gentle, accessible one-hour monthly walks using our structured model, which combines forest bathing, 5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding and secular mind-body techniques.

Alongside delivery, this is a connector role. The volunteer will help us build strong working relationships with social prescribing teams, public health, parks officers, Bromley Council contacts and local community organisations, so that the pilot becomes embedded rather than a stand-alone activity. They may support introductory calls, attend local networking conversations, help explain the ParkBathe model to referrers, and contribute to shaping a clear referral pathway for participants experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood or isolation.

Key priorities will include helping us launch regular ParkBathe walks in Bromley, supporting safe and welcoming participant experiences, gathering light-touch feedback, evaluation surveys, and helping identify what works best for local people and services. The role would also involve evaluating learning from the pilot so we can refine the offer, evidence impact and build a sustainable model for future growth.

ParkBathe Mindful Walks CIC is a growing nature-based wellbeing organisation delivering prescribed mindful nature walks across London. The volunteer would be supported by Vanessa Potter, ParkBathe’s founder, alongside our wider team of trained Walk Leaders and Ambassadors. Full ParkBathe training, supervision, walk scripts, risk assessment guidance and ongoing support will be provided. We are particularly keen to welcome someone with experience within health services who can bring their own professional insight from counselling, therapy, health, public health, social prescribing or community wellbeing, ideally with 3+ years experience in one or more of those areas.

What are we looking for?

You should be a thoughtful, grounded and reliable person who is excited by the potential of Green Social Prescribing and helping local people. This is not simply a “walk volunteer” role; we are looking for someone who can help us shape a high-quality, locally embedded GSP offer in Bromley.

The ideal person would have at least three years experience in one or more of these areas: counselling, therapy, coaching, mental health, social prescribing, public health, community wellbeing, health policy, outdoor wellbeing, evaluation or related work. They do not need to be an expert in all of these areas, but they should understand the importance of safe, accessible, trauma-informed and inclusive practice. Experience of supporting people with anxiety, low mood, isolation, bereavement, stress, health challenges or low confidence would be especially valuable.

We also warmly welcome people with relevant lived experience of mental health challenges, isolation, recovery, caring responsibilities, disability, long-term health conditions or life transitions, where they feel this experience gives them insight, empathy and motivation to support others. Lived experience is valued, but the role also requires good boundaries, reliability and the ability to hold a calm, supportive space without taking on a therapeutic or crisis-support role.

The most important qualities are warmth, steadiness, emotional intelligence and a team spirit. ParkBathe walks are gentle, slow and highly structured, but participants may come with a range of vulnerabilities. We need someone who can create a calm, welcoming atmosphere without trying to “fix” people, over-medicalise the experience, or turn the walk into a talking therapy session. The right person will be comfortable holding quiet space, following a script, noticing group dynamics and helping people feel safe outdoors. There is a creative element to the role too with simple indoor "nature crafting" activities like making nature mandalas out of leaves and petals in colder months when walks outdoors are not suitable, so basic creative ability is useful, but not essential as full training and printed guidance is provided. 

High fitness levels are not required. ParkBathe walks are slow, mindful nature connection sessions, covering 500–1,000 metres. The role may suit someone with lower mobility who is comfortable being outdoors for around two hours and can support participants safely.

You should be confident communicating with professionals and community partners. You may help build relationships with social prescribing teams, parks officers, Bromley Council contacts and local organisations. You may help recruit and support other volunteers, gather light-touch feedback and help us understand shape the project to grow sustainably.

Reliability is essential. You will need to complete ParkBathe training and commit to leading one walk per month in Bromley, alongside some community connecting activities. You will be supported by ParkBathe’s founder and our wider team of trained Walk Leaders, but you will also bring your own insight, initiative and local/professional knowledge. Above all, we are looking for someone who believes that nearby nature can become a practical public health resource, and who wants to help more people in Bromley feel confident, supported and connected in their local green spaces.

What difference will you make?

Your role will have a direct and immediate impact on people in Bromley who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood, loneliness or low confidence accessing green spaces. By leading one regular ParkBathe walk each month, you will help create a calm, safe and welcoming space where participants can slow down, regulate, connect with nature and learn simple tools they can use again on their own. Based on the model in other parks, we expect to support 80-120 people a year in each park location. 

Your contribution will also help ParkBathe build something lasting in Bromley. By supporting local relationships with link workers, social prescribing teams, parks officers, Bromley Council and community partners, the volunteer will help turn ParkBathe from a pilot project into an embedded Green Social Prescribing pathway running throughout multiple parks in Bromley (Orpington and Hayes areas). This means more people can be referred into a trusted, accessible, evidence-based nature wellbeing offer close to where they live.

For ParkBathe, your contribution will be hugely valuable at a key stage of growth. We already deliver prescribed mindful nature walks to 700+ people a year across London, and this Bromley pilot is part of our wider mission to make nearby nature a practical public health resource. The right volunteer will help us demonstrate what a gold-standard, community-rooted Green Social Prescribing model can look like: one that supports mental wellbeing, reduces isolation, strengthens local partnerships and gives people the confidence to return to their parks long after the walk has ended.

Anything else...

The commitment is higher during initial training and set-up. Once established, there will be one monthly Bromley walk during weekday daytime and some extra sessions on weekends. Calls or other meetings are flexible.