Improving health and wellbeing across West Yorkshire

The Local Care Direct Health and Wellbeing Fund was our 5-year partnership with Local Care Direct. It took a varied approach to improving wellbeing. We funded direct mental health support, as well as activities that helped people to feel better about themselves, make new connections and find new ways to cope with living on a low income.

In total, we made 37 multi-year grants to community organisations in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield. And they supported more than 5,000 local people. 

We funded a wide variety of activities through the programme, including: 

• Therapeutic arts, crafts and wellbeing activities for parents. 

• A digital health and wellbeing café with which helped people access health information, apps and prescriptions. 

• Peer and one-to-one support for men recovering from sexual abuse experienced in childhood. 

• Providing essentials like food and clothes for those who couldn’t afford them, alongside help with employment and financial management. 

• A befriending scheme to support isolated older people to join community groups. 

• Creating shared written word materials at bibliotherapy groups. 

• Offering outreach to support women who are, or are at risk of, homelessness. 

• Renovating a communal space for people who are homeless or in unsecured accommodation. 

• A community breakfast club for local Pakistani women to share experiences. 

• A therapeutic horticulture service for people seeking sanctuary. 

• Weekly support groups for carers who care for disabled adults. 

• Connecting people with nature at local green spaces, community gardens and woodlands. 

• A peer and support group for bereaved children and young people. 

 

The 5,000 people supported through the programme all benefitted in different ways. Many developed improved mental health and wellbeing through taking part in the activities. Some improved their physical health. Some got better at taking care of themselves. Some built stronger social networks. And some grew in self-esteem and confidence. 

Like this participant of Scholemoor Beacon’s project. 

He said “Coming here each week has really helped me. It’s warm, friendly, and I feel like I belong. I have made new friends and learnt a lot of things. I look forward to seeing familiar faces and having someone to talk to and enjoy the activities.” 

Those activities included a weekly walking group, sessions on nutrition and exercise, and an arts project with a final exhibition. 

Reflecting on the changes they saw in this participant, Scholemoor Beacon noted that he’d developed friendships, become part of the wider community and grown in confidence. 

And thanks to Local Care Direct and the 37 grants they made, thousands of others experienced growth and change, too. 

We’re proud of our partnership with Local Care Direct, and the impact it’s had for people in communities across Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield.