NIDUS-UK charity’s new Nidotherapy Advice and Training Centre in Cotham, Nottinghamhsire, opened by Sir John Peace, former Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and current chancellor of Nottingham Trent University

A new medical centre aimed at improving mental health has opened.

The Nidotherapy Advice and Training Centre, in Cotham, was officially opened by Sir John Peace, former Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and current Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University.

The centre is devoted to developing nidotherapy, which is the improvement of mental health through environmental change in all its forms, as well as promoting greater partnership with patients.

It incorporates and preserves the main building of a Victorian primary school, built in 1890, be be the new headquarters of international charity NIDUS-UK, which alongside helping mental health trusts in England has helped projects aroudn the wrold including Sweden, Germany, Montenegro and the USA.

One of the early aims for the centre will be engaging with the residents of the surrounding villages of, Alverton, Cotham, Hawton, Kilverton, Sibthorpe, Staunton, and Thorpe, who will be invited to participate in making environmental changes to improve well-being.

Professor Peter Tyrer, emeritus professor of community psychiatry at Imperial College London and a visiting Professor at Nottingham Trent University is chairman of NIDUS-UK.

He said: “Our mental health services are in disarray and the environmental changes offered by nidotherapy can move us forward to better health at low cost and long-term value to individuals and to the community.”

Volunteers for the project will be trained at the centre, which will also be a focal point for meetings in the village.