A sense of belonging is vital for wellbeing and heritage plays a key role in connecting people to their communities and the places they live in. Engaging with local history fosters pride, strengthens cultural identity and builds resilience. Whether through place-based storytelling, conservation projects or local memory cafes, heritage helps individuals to foster stronger bonds with one another and with the places they are part of.
Case Studies
Well-City Salisbury
A social prescribing project, Well-City Salisbury was launched in October 2021 by Wessex Archaeology in partnership with Wiltshire Creative, The Salisbury Museum and ArtCare. The project is about connection – to the arts, the landscape, heritage, community and each other – and provides creative courses for adults and young people aged 14 onwards with low to moderate mental health needs.
Project Rejuvenate
Wessex Archaeology is introducing Historic England's ground-breaking Rejuvenate pilot programme, where archaeology and heritage come together to enhance the well-being of young people.
Evidence
Academic papers
- Gallou, E., Heritage and pathways to wellbeing: From personal to social benefits, between experience identity and capability shaping (2022). Wellbeing, Space and Society, Volume 3, 2
Other evidence
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Heritage Capital and Wellbeing: Examining the Relationship Between Heritage Density and Life Satisfaction (2024), Historic England, Research Report 18/2024
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Heritage and Pride in Place (2023), Heritage Counts, Historic England
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Heritage Linkworker Project. Final Evaluation Report (2024), Make an Impact CIC
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Kirkham Futures - Kirkham High Street Heritage Action Zone, Final evaluation report of the Heritage, Health and Wellbeing programme (Phoenix Rising) (2024), University of Central Lancashire
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'A feeling of belonging': heritage and mental health (2020), National Lottery Heritage Fund
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Kirkham: Forging a Heritage Programme as a Bridge to Wellbeing (2022), Historic England Research, issue 20
Resources
- Heritage Wellbeing Listings, Health Connections, Frome
- Heritage, Health and Wellbeing (2020), case studies and recommendations, The Heritage Alliance
- Place, identity and wellbeing: Bradford and beyond – presentation to the Wellbeing and Heritage Conference, March 2024
