Wild Oak CIC

Wild Oak CIC is a community interest company based in Buckfastleigh, South Devon, working to improve the wellbeing of men who are socially isolated, economically marginalised, or struggling with their mental health in rural and semi-rural communities.

Our flagship programme, The Wellspring, brings men together in nature for a structured journey of peer support, personal growth, and professional development. The programme uses co-mentoring as its core method: participants both give and receive support, building skills, confidence, and genuine connection alongside one another.

Men in our communities face real barriers to accessing help. Rural isolation compounds mental health challenges, and men are far less likely than women to engage with conventional services. The Wellspring offers something different: a route into support that feels purposeful rather than clinical, and that carries real vocational weight: participants can progress toward becoming accredited NatureWell facilitators, opening pathways into the growing green social prescribing sector.

Our first full programme cycle showed approximately 25% improvement in mentee wellbeing and 20% improvement in mentor social connection. We are now developing GP referral pathways and academic evaluation partnerships to deepen this evidence base and extend our reach across South Dartmoor.