A WELLBEING project supporting people living with low to medium mental health needs in Salisbury has received more than £360,000 for services.
Well-City Salisbury has been awarded £368,135 from the National Lottery Community Fund to run arts and heritage courses to help people living with mental health problems.
It comes after the group marked three years of delivery, with courses to return in Spring 2025 to build on its work. Well-City Salisbury brings together partner organisations; ArtCare, Wessex Archaeology, Wiltshire Creative and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
Together, they help people from different backgrounds access creative sessions delivered by professional artists and practitioners over a three-year period, with additional resources developed specifically to reach a much larger online audience.
Participants are referred onto a course by their GP practice, support organisation, community group or school wellbeing team, as well as self-referring.
In its first three years, Well-City Salisbury delivered 29 creative courses for 191 participants, working with 19 local artists and 18 referral organisations, as well as 53 community events and training 54 individuals in mental health awareness.
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Leigh Chalmers, who leads the Well-City Salisbury project, said: “We’re delighted that Well-City Salisbury can continue for another three years thanks to the support of the National Lottery Community Fund.
“This means we can build upon our successes from the first three years and present participants with more opportunities to engage with the project.
“We can’t wait to welcome people back and to reach out to new people who might be interested in getting involved.”
Dr Stuart Eve, chief executive of Wessex Archaeology, said: “Well-City Salisbury is one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects that is born out of a need to effect real change in the lives of our communities.
“As archaeologists we spend our lives uncovering the past and finding ways to use it to help build a better world.
“The initial project has clearly shown that engagement with heritage can not only enrich people’s lives, but also create new relationships, skills and opportunities for the Salisbury community and beyond.
“As a major employer in Salisbury, it is an absolute privilege to be able to continue the Well-City Salisbury project and to use our specialist knowledge, collections and enthusiasm to continue helping and caring for the people of Salisbury.”
ArtCare project officer, Lesley Self, welcomed the news.
“Thanks to the continued support of the National Lottery we are able to develop our offer to support people at Salisbury District Hospital and in the community with their mental health and wellbeing,” they said.
And Rosa Corbishley, executive director of Wiltshire Creative, said the programme’s aims were “at the heart” of the group’s objectives.
“Supporting the mental wellbeing and creativity of our communities is at the heart of Wiltshire Creative’s mission,” she said.
“We look forward to working with our partners across the city to ensure more people can live happy and healthier lives and create the space to explore their own history and stories.”
Damian Haasjes, director of education and wellbeing at the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, added: “Wiltshire Wildlife Trust are proud to be a partner with Well-City Salisbury as we know first-hand what a positive impact Well City programmes have on improving people’s mental health and wellbeing.
“This partnership is a natural extension of the wellbeing work undertaken by the Trust and we are looking forward to supporting Well City and the people of Salisbury.”
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