Thriving Communities Fund: supporting communities through challenging times

2022-01-17T10:07:30+00:00

During a challenging couple of years, where many individuals and communities have been facing tough times, those working in social prescribing have really demonstrated their value and impact by changing lives – in small ways and big ways. The 36 social prescribing projects funded by the Thriving Communities Fund (from National Academy for Social Prescribing and Arts Council England, Historic England and Natural England, NHS England and Improvement, Sport England, the Money and Pensions Service and NHS Charities Together) have delivered innovative and varied activities and programmes that are making a real difference to people’s lives. From walking football to aerial [...]

Thriving Communities Fund: supporting communities through challenging times2022-01-17T10:07:30+00:00

Parent Voice – Better Connect in partnership with North Tyneside Carers Centre

2022-01-12T16:31:38+00:00

Parent Voice is a key project in Better Connect, and North Tyneside Carers Centre (NTCC) are strategic partners in this social prescribing programme. Parent Voice focuses on using creative activities in new and mixed media as a platform to open up conversations with Parent Carers around ‘self’, who they as a person beyond being a parent and a carer. Initial focus group sessions highlighted a high need from Parent Carers who feel they have lost who they are as a person and want to reclaim their identity. Artists work alongside participants to help them engage with and explore [...]

Parent Voice – Better Connect in partnership with North Tyneside Carers Centre2022-01-12T16:31:38+00:00

What’s cooking? A visit to Thrive Haringey

2021-11-16T12:47:30+00:00

On a cold November Friday what could be more nourishing than a chicken ramen? How about a chicken ramen cooked by children from an estate in Haringey, where it wasn’t just the flavours that mattered, but the connections, community, and sheer enjoyment? The work that the National Academy for Social Prescribing do matters. But we only see just how much when we’re spending time with those people who are engaging in the activity and programmes. On a visit to Bridge Renewal Trust to hear more about what they are doing as part of as part of Thriving Communities Fund social prescribing [...]

What’s cooking? A visit to Thrive Haringey2021-11-16T12:47:30+00:00

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

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

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

Waterways and wellbeing

2021-10-04T15:45:28+01:00

The Canal & River Trust will lead partners who are using the natural asset of the Nottingham & Beeston Canal to provide physical activity, art, heritage and food-based activities for local people.  It’s not just physical activity though. Their programme has supported people’s mental wellbeing too.  The Waterways & Wellbeing project in Nottingham has seen around 100 people taking part in paddleboarding and canoeing sessions on the canal running through the city. The sessions, run by waterways and wellbeing charity the Canal & River Trust, have given those taking part the opportunity to enjoy some relaxing time on [...]

Waterways and wellbeing2021-10-04T15:45:28+01:00

Helix Arts: Better Connect – from attendee to volunteer

2021-10-07T17:14:55+01:00

Debbie Reed started her journey with Helix Arts around 2 years ago, slap bang in the middle of a pandemic. – and she is now an amazingly committed Helix Arts Volunteer for our social prescribing programme Better Connect supported through Thriving Communities. Better Connect is the Helix Arts led social prescribing programme working with a network of Community Voluntary Sector organisations who share values and ambitions for the role of arts and health. Better Connect involves a mixed cultural programme which prioritises and supports carers across North Tyneside. Helix Arts developed a relationship with First Contact Clinical (FCC) and [...]

Helix Arts: Better Connect – from attendee to volunteer2021-10-07T17:14:55+01:00
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