Prescribe Nature at Newbattle Abbey College: Highly Recommended!

-

Today was a nice day. I have officially graduated from Newbattle Abbey College's 'Prescribe Nature' course, which is the Forest and Outdoor Learning Award at SCQF Level 4. The little celebration today included being presented with my award and lots of cake and coffee!

​This journey has been really nice, connecting me more with nature and the outdoors. Even with others also, which can be a challenge as an autistic with social phobia. 

I loved the buildings of the college, from the forest classroom to the old Abbey building. I also enjoyed the meals. 

The certificate shows I completed 4 SCQF Credit Points, delivered in partnership with Forest College and accredited by the SCQF.


​A big thank you to all the kind and helpful staff at the college.

​I am looking forward to using these new skills as an outdoor Early Years Learning Assistant and with my own kids. I'm also now enrolled in another primarily outdoor course at a riding stable in Edinburgh. This course is called Wellbeing with Horses. Onwards and upwards! 

A Highland Theological College graduate and non-conformist follower of Jesus living at the crossroads of neurodiversity and faith. Writing on the wild grace of the Gospel.

Comments

Post a Comment

What sayest thou?

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome!

-
Image
Dear Friends, Welcome. ​This space exists for one reason: ​love — ​the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ, ​the love we are called to extend ​to one another, ​and to the world. ​There are many voices clamouring for our attention. Here, you will find the rhythm of one heart seeking to follow the way of Love. My ministry does not happen behind heavy church doors or within rigid institutional walls. It happens in the quiet, ordinary spaces of life where we learn to walk together at an unhurried pace. This is a faith rooted not in tradition for its own sake, but in the living, active, self-giving love at the heart of the Gospel. ​Three truths have become my anchors: ​The Living Word Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Apart from Him, the true God cannot be fully known. In Jesus, we see the face of a God who is Love, and whose Gospel is the path of Peace. ​The Gift of Grace I believe salvation is found by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Grace is a t...
Read more

Gateway Bronze: Week 1 – Setting the Foundation

-
Image
​ 1. Lifestyle (Health and Wellbeing) ​ The Rhythm: This week I’ve used the Finch app and the Northumbria Office to keep a consistent daily sanctuary. It’s helped me stay grounded as I start this six-month journey. ​ Evidence:   ​ 2. Personal Challenge (Self-Awareness) ​ The Connection: I attended the Dad & Me group at Midlothian Sure Start . It was good to be in that space and start building that weekly habit of connection. ​ Evidence:   This week involved normal play and some messy play. Gabriel came as "Dads helper" this week which was cute!  ​ 3. Fitness & Volunteering (Nature & Service) ​ The Progress: I completed my nature walk this week and spent time getting set up for  Walk for Autism ( my fundraising page is now live ).  ​ Evidence: Other: I also started to explore resources from Health in Mind. And follow the advice to keep a journal. ...
Read more

The Gate of The Year (God Knows)

-
Image
The poem, originally titled "God Knows" and written by Minnie Louise Haskins in 1908, is most famous for its opening preamble. ​Here is the full text: ​The Gate of the Year ​And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.” ​So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East. ​So heart be still: What need our little life, Our human life, to know, If God hath comprehension? In all the dizzy strife Of things both high and low, God hideth His intention. ​God knows. His will Is best. The stretch of years Which wind ahead, so dim To our imperfect vision, Are clear to God. Our fears Are premature; In Him, All time hath full provision. ​Then rest: un...
Read more

Charles Spurgeon: On War and Christians

-
Image
  ✦ ✦ ✦ "Long Have I Held That War Is an Enormous Crime " The Forgotten Voice of Spurgeon Against the Unrighteousness of War Compiled from the Sermons & Addresses of C. H. Spurgeon · Charles Haddon Spurgeon — the "Prince of Preachers," whose sermons filled the Metropolitan Tabernacle week after week with thousands of listeners and whose printed words reached millions across the Victorian world — held a view on war and Christians that modern conservative, fundamentalist, and evangelical readers would find startling. He was, in the most direct and unambiguous terms, opposed to war. Not cautiously skeptical of it. Not quietly troubled by it. Opposed to it — on Christian grounds, from the pulpit, in print, again and again across the breadth of his ministry. Laurence M. Vance, who has studied Spurgeon's writings on the subject at length, has noted that "Spurgeon considered the spirit of war to be absolutely foreign to the spirit of Christianity" and tha...
Read more

Week 7 — Weekly Mencap Gateway Post

-
Image
  Mencap Gateway Week 7 Evidence Checklist Sunday check-in · approx. 5 minutes   Sunday reflection on advocacy, faith, community, and daily life Here's this week's evidence checklist and reflection. It's been a full, tender week — plans changed, ideas grew quieter and warmer, and small acts of advocacy continued behind the scenes. As always, progress isn't always loud. Section 1 🚶 Volunteering — Walk for Autism Evidence:   This week's advocacy and visibility work for Walk for Autism: Fundraising link posted on the   No. 6 One Stop Shop Facebook group   to reach a wider local audience. Used the   @highlight   feature to boost the post's reach and engagement. Section 2 🌿 Fitness — Nature Walk Evidence: Pictures of walk around the Scottish Bird Gardens in Lauder. Section 3 📖 Hobby — The Digital Parish & Daily Office Activity Daily prayer using the   Northumbria Community Office , with reflections on faith and life on this blog. This week also ...
Read more

Mr Kirk

-
Describe your take on the Charlie Kirk murder: I have held off judgement as whatever happens he was human and I refuse to speak ill of any dead. I agreed with him on some things and strongly disagreed on other things. I will let God be his judge, not me.  None the less I always have questions: Was it weird Netanyahu said it wasn't him?  Why this one killing got so much attention when it is daily, even hourly in the USA?  What's in the files?  Why wasn't the flags even at half mast for the senators murdered only months before for example?  Thoughts about the service I admittedlly only saw bits of:  Horst Wessel effect? Pyrotechnic show? Political rally?  Were some people just acting?  Mega church concert? Is revival, as some claim it is, not more than some nice songs and words?  Isn't revival conviction, repentance and fruits showing, social reformation?  Can God not also use it for good even if some of these speakers, as some may claim, ...
Read more

Day 1 – Walk for Autism 2026: Let's Go! 👟♾️

-
Image
Today is officially Day 1 of the Walk for Autism challenge, and my legs are already warmed up — because I haven't exactly been waiting around! Over the past couple of months I've been quietly clocking up steps ahead of this week, so by the time the official 8-day challenge kicked off this morning (26th March – 2nd April), I'd already built up a bit of momentum. The goal is 10,000 steps a day, every day, raising money for Autism Initiatives — and I'm going into it with a decent head start on the 80,000-step target. If you've seen my fundraiser page, you'll already know why this cause sits so close to my heart. I'm walking for my wife Sarah, for Solomon, Gabriel, Lilianna, and Ezra — a family that is, in every sense, living and breathing neurodiversity every single day. I'm also walking as an autistic adult myself, because I know firsthand how much it means to have a community that simply gets you. And speaking of community — later in April I...
Read more

🌟 Week 5 Evidence Checklist

-
Image
Mencap Bronze Gateway Sunday check-in  — a quick 5-minute review of this week's evidence across all five areas. Here's what was captured for Week 5! 1 · Volunteering Walk for Autism 🦶 Evidence required:   2 · Fitness Nature Walk 🌿 Evidence required:   3 · Hobby The Digital Parish & Daily Office 🙏 Activity:  Daily prayer using the Northumbria Community Office, with reflections documented here on the blog. Today's morning meditation from Northumbria Community:  "Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace." (Frederick Buechner) This practice combines spiritual routine with creative writing — a meaningful double contribution to the Gateway. 4 · Personal Challenge Submitted ✅ + Bonus...
Read more

Weekly Evidence Checklist: Mencap Gateway Bronze Award (Week 16)

-
Image
Welcome back to the weekly roundup! It is Sunday, which means it’s time for our 5-minute evidence check-in for the Mencap Gateway Bronze Award . This week has been a rich blend of outdoor education, sensory management, and spiritual reflection. ​Here is the breakdown of activities and evidence for Week 16: ​1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism ​ Status: Completed and submitted previously. ​2. Fitness: Nature Walks & The Great Outdoors ​This week’s fitness has been heavily integrated with my studies at Newbattle Abbey College and a family trip.  ​ Activity: Woodland walks and exploration. ​ Highlights: ​A family trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens over the holiday weekend. ​Continued the Prescribe Nature course, which involved a significant amount of movement while building wellbeing in the outdoors. ​3. Hobby: The Digital Parish & Daily Office ​I have found myself returning to the Northumbria Community Daily Office . Ther...
Read more