Rural Rest Lanarkshire's outdoor relaxation and wellbeing community group

25/11/2025

I'd just like to express my appreciation towards COATBRIDGE AIRDRIE & MONKLANDS ROTARY CLUB.
They are the first organisation to invite Rural Rest to share our vision towards a walk in facility within nature focusing on mental health they have been so supportive of our quest towards Rural Rest being approved & born now we have our permanent location secure & awaiting our lease from nlc.
We received a surprise call from the Rotary club today saying they love what we're doing so much they have made a donation towards us today which is absolutely amazing our idea for the donation will be shared soon.
Whilst we're awaiting Rural Rest's lease & timescale on bringing Rural Rest to life it doesn't stop us having a direct help for some in the community.

Our first donation from Coatbridge airdrie & monklands Rotary club such a blessing & can't wait to put the donation towards direct help for two families in December..

21/11/2025

The reality behind fighting for our community came from our wee livingroom in Kirkshaws wi a man who knows how to fight my husband John has steered our quest with a dogged approach and has brought a surreal outcome with Rural Rest being approved, a historical change towards doing things a bit different within nature a walk in facility focusing on mental health.
The past two years fight has came at a cost to ourselves but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. A hard road emboldened our grit to keep going people helping people community building & the voice's from within our community that usually aren't heard were listened to and respected not only that but backed by every political party. A cross party agreement was made on Monday 27th October our lease is now in process I hope you take our fight as inspiration to yourself whatever you are fighting for even if it feels hopeless never give up on your instincts for what's right.
My husband John's health isn't the best but he couldn't let our fight die without a positive outcome I am truly grateful as I said previously this process isn't for the faint hearted I can 100% garentee our council knows about Rural Rest now & they're so excited for the future progress in bringing Rural Rest to life.
Thanks once again for everyone who took time to like & interact on our posts also people who wrote heartfelt submissions to the council, I read each one & was so proud of you all sharing your heart on paper to be apart of change. .

Our people & council stood together keep your eyes peeled folks something spectacular on route once the legal process completed ......

06/11/2025

Not one for buying newspapers nowadays but this headline caught my eye. Had a quick read over it and had to buy it to see what the issues were in full.
All I can say is, well it’s about time.

About time the words EPIDEMIC and NATIONAL TRAGEDY were at the forefront of our conversations when it comes to mental ill-health and su***de prevention, particularly in the continuing fight for authorities like government and councils to assist communities to do more.

We all have heard and experienced the difficulties when we need to see a doctor for physical remedies and how long it takes to see a doctor sometimes. The reality of some of these appointments are that, most of the time the wait to be seen won’t necessarily make anything worse or life threatening. The problem with waiting for mental health services to improve and be quicker is that we have no way of observation, understanding or even knowing what might be happening in someone’s mind. At least with physical health there are chemists and over the counter remedies that can be accessed and sometimes even cure.

We don’t have this in the community, this is why Rural Rest applied for understanding from North Lanarkshire Council and last week concrete action was taken at the Communities Committee to secure a future for our community. A future where anyone who needs support can access it in the community while waiting for access to the NHS maybe even gain skills and knowledge to help themselves integrate into or back into the life they once lives contently or a new one they always dreamt of.

During our time to secure a space we had to fight hard, yes I know even when you’re trying to make positive moves for the community you come up against nae sayer’s and trust me, the selfish ways some folk come against something doesn’t shock or surprise me but it leads you to wonder who and what the causes of some folks mental struggles are.
The Daily Record here are helping make people aware that something needs done at government levels, it also highlights that the elders (us) in the community need to do more to make the society young folk are evolving into is acceptable to them.
Last week at committee a number of cross party councillors agreed with Rural Rest that this needs to happen sooner rather than later their names are listed below…….

Mental health warriors the lot of them.
Time to build new ways of community support, time for government to invest and accept that communities know themselves better than any national statistic paper.
So we call on Neil Gray MSP and Jenny Gilruth MSP to take heed of The campaign, the people it aims to help and in the memory of those who needed it quicker!

Louise Roarty
Claire Barclay
Alan Beveridge
Gerry Brennan
Bob Burgess
Andrew Bustard
Josh Cairns
Kenneth Duffy
Fiona Fotheringham
William Goldie
Kaye Harmon
Jean Jones
Joanne Katy Keltie
John Jo Leckie
Michael McBride
Barry McCluskey
Barry McCulloch
Peter McDade
Lesley Mitchell
Jim Reddin
Nicky Shevlin
Adam Smith
Janice Catherine Toner
Gordon Currie

29/10/2025

I'd just like to express the fullness behind securing Rural Rest's location almost two years input towards a unanimous political agreement took lots of holding onto each others hands lol this journey isn't for the faint hearted thank you John Wason for your fight, support & patience whilst not taking our eyes from the end goal of public wellbeing a different way of doing things with a historical date Monday 27th October our quest was approved by nlc. The council backed it's people and showed heart thank you!!!

Groundbreaking public submissions thanks everyone 🙏

Without your input couldn't have been possible John love you ...

27/10/2025

Today Rural Rest had our application granted at committee and we have to thank everyone for their support over the past 18 months but a special thanks has to go to our local councillor….
Geraldine Woods.
Geraldine has been with us every step of the way.
She’s been there when we had to combat the trials and tribulations of dealing with local government and all that comes with it.
She is the embodiment of a public representative and always has been. She was there encouraging us and kept our spirits high even when we felt like it was a pointless quest.
Geraldine is a warrior but more than this she’s a warrior when no one is looking and she makes it count.
If Geraldine isn’t your local representative I’m afraid you’ll have to move house cause she’s Coatbridge South through and through.
Thanks Geraldine!

27/10/2025

Community asset transfer approved!
Well, well well!
People power eh?
It’s been a long road and one which will continue to be paved with the support and belief of those who see Rural Rest as a force for good in the battle to provide community driven action for better mental health and well-being facilities.
Today at committee it was reiterated by Councillor Roarty that Rural Rest will be the first of its kind and highlighted the need for more decent people operating community led initiatives backed by those who support them.
Councillor Roarty’s amendment seconded by councillor McBride helped secure a unanimous agreement from all councillors of all parties and independent councillors to agree Rural Rests application.
We are great full to all councillors who raised points of clarity and helped convince committee that Rural Rest is the only show in town!
We have loads of folk to thank who submitted a groundbreaking number of representations of support over the past few weeks you know who you are.
We would though however like to explicitly thank the communities team at North Lanarkshire Council for their contribution and wish Chief officer Pennman all the best in his new position as chief executive at Ayrshire Council, sure he’ll be missed at North Lanarkshire.
Today North Lanarkshire Council have helped begin a new way for communities to better help each other Rural Rest will help show the way, let’s do this! ..

27/10/2025

Yasss........

27/10/2025

Groundbreaking public support you have paved the way historical change historical movement now all we need is cross party agreement to approve of a much needed facility for our local community this outcome now sits with our local authorities to agree its need today 🙏

12/10/2025

12/10/2025

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12/10/2025

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11/10/2025

Tommy showing his solidarity to the pioneering new way of doing things when it comes to mental health and well-being showing up for the brothers and sisters ✊