Crocodiles in the community – a day with The Health Tree

2021-10-28T18:24:17+01:00

Joshua Ryan, Head of Thriving Communities visited The Health Tree, a Thriving Communities funded project, and was informed, inspired, and entertained. I’m sat in a hall with about sixty people, and we all have our arms out in front us, furiously snapping away like crocodiles. We’re, obviously, trying to tell someone through the medium of mime that their handbag has been eaten by a crocodile. There’s laughter in the air. The atmosphere is pure joy. It is a community of people, revelling in the chance to finally be together again. This is the Health Tree, one of 37 Thriving Communities projects [...]

Crocodiles in the community – a day with The Health Tree2021-10-28T18:24:17+01:00

GamCare – helping those affected by gambling related harms

2021-10-27T16:21:17+01:00

What is Gambling related harm?  Gambling related harms are generally defined as ‘the adverse financial, personal and social consequences to gamblers, their families and wider social networks, that can be caused by gambling’.  It is estimated that there are up to 400,000 people experiencing harm because of their gambling behaviour in the UK, and another 2 million people could be at risk (Gambling Commission, 2018). Some estimates suggest that for every gambler experiencing harm, between 6 and 10 additional people such as friends, family or co-workers are also affected (Citizen’s Advice, 2018).  Individuals impacted by gambling related harms may experience financial difficulties, mental health problems, relationship difficulties and more. [...]

GamCare – helping those affected by gambling related harms2021-10-27T16:21:17+01:00

Finding a connection with nature

2021-10-26T13:59:28+01:00

Miles Richardson is Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby and leads the Nature Connectedness Research Group. He will be speaking at the Thriving Communities webinar on Nature Connectedness on 23 November at 3pm. There weren’t many good things about lockdown, but one that struck us was how much people turned to nature. Unable to see friends or family in the early stages, or go indoors later on, they took to their parks, local fields, and woodland areas. But at the same time as more and more of us turn to our green [...]

Finding a connection with nature2021-10-26T13:59:28+01:00

Hear what we want – raising young people’s voices through social prescribing

2021-10-28T18:25:06+01:00

We don’t talk about love enough. Or relationships. Or even sex. Despite being a fundamental part of life, it’s still something of a taboo. The Her Centre and Tramshed theatre in Greenwich, London are seeking to challenge that with their  social prescribing project, supported by the Thriving Communities Fund. We visited their event for funders and partners, titled Her Centre's Open Forum: Hear What We Want - Young People & Relationships to hear more about what they’ve been doing and how they are changing lives. Social prescribing isn’t just knitting for older people, or gentle yoga in the park. It’s a [...]

Hear what we want – raising young people’s voices through social prescribing2021-10-28T18:25:06+01:00

YOUR Climate Needs YOU!

2021-12-01T16:21:26+00:00

In September the Royal Horticultural Society launched its ‘YOUR Climate needs YOU!’ campaign to encourage gardeners to be more sustainable.  Here Richard Claxton, GP, gardener, and founder of the gardening4health directory, reflects on how gardening can be good for both people and the planet.    Ten months since its launch; the Gardening4health directory of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) has slowly but surely grown, its coverage spreading across the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.   Word of mouth and publicity in the GP and horticultural press, as well as from the National Academy for Social Prescribing, has encouraged more and more people to use it – and help me update it where they [...]

YOUR Climate Needs YOU!2021-12-01T16:21:26+00:00

Social prescribing helps individuals connect to their communities for better mental health

2021-10-05T16:29:31+01:00

World Mental Health Day 2021 on Sunday 10 October The theme is ‘Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality’ Social prescribing focuses on ‘what matters to me’ and involves social prescribing link workers spending time with a person, and getting to understand their individual needs Social prescribing link workers and other healthcare professionals are helping people and patients improve their health by prescribing access to activities in their community COVID-19 has shown us all how important mental health is. The World Health Organisation who coordinate World Mental Health Day every year are calling on countries around the world [...]

Social prescribing helps individuals connect to their communities for better mental health2021-10-05T16:29:31+01:00

Victorious Women of Valiant Workshop: supporting survivors of domestic abuse

2021-10-05T11:23:55+01:00

Janet Walker, founder of Victorious Women of Valiant and a domestic abuse survivor, tells us about the service she offers to other women who have been through similar experiences.    Victorious Women of Valiant Workshop is a three week series of four hour sessions designed to help women overcome the trauma of domestic abuse (DA) and reduce the mental health impact this may have caused.   As a DA survivor from an 18 year marriage, I have lived experience, and I identified key areas that helped me to recover from the trauma of the abuse. I wanted to use what I had learned and the skills I had developed [...]

Victorious Women of Valiant Workshop: supporting survivors of domestic abuse2021-10-05T11:23:55+01:00

S2R Support to Recovery

2021-10-04T16:19:31+01:00

 S2R Support to Recovery is an independent mental health and wellbeing charity, working across Kirklees, offering a range of wellbeing, creative and outdoor workshops. They are a partner in the Third Sector Leaders Kirklees - Well Connected North Kirklees, a Thriving Communities project providing a wide range of accessible, enjoyable activities to address urgent local health priorities including diabetes, obesity, and mental health.  Due to the Covid pandemic situation, S2R designed a diverse range of online and meet up health and wellbeing activities, that local marginalised communities could assess and take part in. Working in partnership with TSL we recognised that we had to meet this [...]

S2R Support to Recovery2021-10-04T16:19:31+01:00

Slough CVS – supporting wellbeing through creativity

2021-10-04T16:06:44+01:00

Slough CVS has been organising initiatives to help connect clients with low to moderate levels of depression, anxiety, stress, isolation, and loneliness, to focus their energy on a positive activity. The Thriving Communities  Supporting Well Being through Creativity offers a  range of activities from community link groups covering health, exercise, arts, music dance, chats, environmental understanding, happiness get-togethers and more.   Activities include arts and crafts sessions, Connect Programmes: Exploring identity and self-expression in a creative way, and cultural and social community activities, such as singing sessions. This will help overcome barriers to mental wellbeing, by enabling clients to focus their energy on creative and positive activities.    Slough CVS [...]

Slough CVS – supporting wellbeing through creativity2021-10-04T16:06:44+01:00

Physical activity helps people’s mental health in Plymouth

2021-10-04T15:45:08+01:00

As part of the Green Social Prescribing project in Plymouth, Argyle Community Trust are currently delivering a range of weekly activities which aim to encourage people from the local community to become more physically active and get back into the great outdoors. It has also been found that physical activity has also had a positive impact on participant’s mental health, reducing social isolation and improving their overall wellbeing.  In particular, a Compassionate Café has been delivered, in partnership with St. Luke’s Hospice, throughout the summer aimed at supporting older people who are at risk of isolation and have also possibly recently gone through [...]

Physical activity helps people’s mental health in Plymouth2021-10-04T15:45:08+01:00
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