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Our impact
& our strategy
At Mind Over Mountains, we’re committed to understanding the difference our programmes make. We listen closely to our participants, measure outcomes and use what we learn to continually strengthen our approach.
We use the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), a recognised measure of mental wellbeing, to track changes in participants before and after our programmes. In 2025, participants completing our evaluation reported an average 6.6-point improvement in WEMWBS scores.
We have also begun translating these improvements into WELLBYs (Wellbeing-Adjusted Life Years), a measure used within HM Treasury's Green Book approach to valuing changes in wellbeing. This helps us understand not only the difference our programmes make to individuals, but the wider social value they can create.
Using a conservative assumption that the benefits experienced by participants are sustained for three months, our analysis indicates:
- Around £3,500 of positive social value per participant
- Approximately £353,000 of social value across the 111 participants in our 2025 evaluation sample
- An estimated £10–£13 of social value for every £1 spent delivering our work
These calculations have been reviewed with experts at the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) and East Midlands healthcare partners, helping us to build a robust approach to understanding the wider value of our work.
With a wellbeing walk costing around £156 per participant, this emerging analysis demonstrates the potential for relatively low-cost, nature-based interventions to deliver meaningful improvements in wellbeing alongside significant value to wider society.
Our latest Strategy & Impact Report sets out our ambition to make nature-based mental-health support part of the mainstream, not the exception.
It captures how our vision, to bring the healing power of nature, connection and physical activity to everyone who needs it, is becoming a reality.
We invite you to explore our full Evidence Base Review (2024), produced alongside university partners such as the University of Lancashire, showcasing the academic foundations behind our approach.
Please read our full 2025 Impact Report here.
You can view our 2025 Impact Report stats below.
Before and after our programmes, we invite participants to share feedback and complete recognised wellbeing measures. This helps us understand the difference our support makes, learn from participants’ experiences and continually improve what we do.
In 2025, we supported around 500 people across our wellbeing walks and residential retreats.
Our evaluation data showed strong outcomes, including:
- an average 6.6-point improvement in WEMWBS scores, representing a meaningful improvement in participants’ mental wellbeing
- when these improvements are translated into WELLBYs, our analysis indicates a social return of approximately £10–£13 for every £1 spent delivering our programmes
- a World Class Net Promoter Score, reflecting the overwhelmingly positive experience reported by participants
Our WELLBY analysis also indicates approximately £3,500 of positive social value per participant, based on an assumed three-month period of sustained benefit.
Alongside these measures, we listen closely to what participants tell us about their experiences - from feeling more connected to others and to nature, to developing tools and confidence that can support their wellbeing beyond the programme itself.
We learn as much from those who haven't joined us yet as from those who have.
Our annual survey shows that barriers such as confidence, transport, fitness or time can prevent people from taking part. This insight is driving our inclusivity planning: how we provide more suitable walks & retreats to all those who may need our support. Our survey results show that, as well as delivering our well-received walks & retreats, we will need to target a more specific cross-section of society; including young people aged 18-30, a fuller range of diverse underserved populations, and urban residents. As a result, we will develop new partnerships with a wide range of community organisations, & continue to offer bursary places to ensure no one is left behind.
During 2023 we documented our theory of change, which provides the framework for all of our developing impact measurement work. The theory of change links to the relevant supporting evidence from the Five Ways to Wellbeing and the relevant National Academy for Social Prescribing clinical evidence papers. Our summary theory of change is shown here, click button below to zoom.
We are committed to robustly measuring and evaluating the impact of our programmes, using recognised outcome measures including the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). This enables us to track changes in participants’ mental wellbeing, strengthen our understanding of what works and continue to develop our approach.
Alongside our own outcome measurement, an independent service evaluation examined the impact of seven residential retreats delivered for Cambridgeshire Constabulary between 2022 and 2025, supporting 105 officers, staff and volunteers.
The findings demonstrate significant improvements in mental health and wellbeing. Among participants evaluated between 2022 and 2024, anxiety reduced by an average of 3.4 points (GAD-7) and depression by 3.0 points (PHQ-9). In 2025, participants recorded an average 9.8-point increase in wellbeing (WEMWBS), with 82% experiencing a meaningful positive change.
The evaluation also highlighted wider benefits that can help support wellbeing beyond the retreat itself. Participants reported stronger connections with nature and other people, increased motivation to be physically active, and new tools and strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing.
We are also working with the University of Lancashire to identify funders for an evaluation of the retreats and walks we deliver for ambulance service personnel.
We invite you to read the full Cambridgeshire Constabulary Impact Report here, and you can view the Impact Stats below.
A referral case study
A Transformative Event - Beks & her Mind Over Mountains retreat experience
This was a transformative event for my client. She felt accepted, validated and valued. She became able to speak freely about her experiences and her traumas. She made good connections, which has been difficult for her in the past. She loved the setting and the activities; she even grew to value the most difficult part (for her) of speaking in front of the group.
Our integrated approach
Atheah's experience with Mind Over Mountains
It was helpful to have trained counsellors - I’d never allowed myself to be as open to people I’d never met before, until I found Mind Over Mountains. I came away from the experience wanting to be more active, feeling motivated to do more.
Connecting with other people is such a big part of it. It brought me back to me again, remembering who I used to be and how I used to be able to connect well with people from all walks of life. I’m really grateful for that.
Read more about Atheah's experience with Mind Over Mountains
A story of life changing impact
Matt’s police retreat story - ‘best weekend of my life’
Mind Over Mountains is an incredible charity with incredible people. I genuinely walked away with the belief that it was the best weekend of my life - and I still believe that. It was incredible to be able to open up without judgement. You don't need to worry about what people think of you. Just think about yourself, concentrate on yourself, recharge and make sure you’re ok.
Read more about Matt’s police retreat story - ‘best weekend of my life’
Reconnection with nature
Robynne’s story of reconnection & recovery
From participant to fundraiser
Julie's story - Why Mind Over Mountains has become such a big part of my life
Finding a way to feel belonging again
Rawand's experience of our retreat with Future Leaders; for refugees & asylum seekers
The Mind Over Mountains event was absolutely amazing. I felt free, connected to nature and experienced a real sense of belonging. It was such an incredible environment to be in. I loved the walks as a group and I even did some running which in now a huge passion of mine.
I live in a big city, surrounded by buildings, but I can still feel the positive effects from the Mind Over Mountains event -- I feel refreshed, energised and my physical and mental health have been boosted!
Read more about Rawand's experience of our retreat with Future Leaders; for refugees & asylum seekers
Rebuilding self confidence
Tracey's journey of rebuilding self confidence & sense of achievement
Bursary support to make the difference
Sylvia's Story: Mud, Mud Everywhere!
To anyone who isn't sure about booking on, I would say: grab the opportunity. It doesn't matter what the weather’s like, or what time of year it is - just grab the opportunity. There are bursaries if you can't afford it - and I do think it's worth it.
Now, I purposely find opportunities to go out, to walk. And then when I’m walking I’m listening, smelling, even tasting where I can. I recently completed a four hour hike - I would never have signed up for something like that prior to attending the Mind Over Mountains retreat.
Read more about Sylvia's Story: Mud, Mud Everywhere!
