The Trojan Mouse: The Benefits of Social Work Out of Doors

The use of outdoor spaces to build relationships, self-confidence and enhance lives is not new, but the actual involvement of social workers might only be found through the model of Community Social Work demonstrated in this chapter. The recent policy initiative of placing social workers in multi-disciplinary teams in medical practices in Northern Ireland has provided such opportunities. The model can be used in urban outdoor spaces as well, but rural settings should offer obvious locations for such practice, although the type of access and support illustrated here requires conscious community development. The chapter, using the voices of those involved, demonstrates the value of collaboration and partnership at all levels as well as speaking to the challenge facing all of us as we learn to expand the term ‘community’ to include the natural environment.