Supporting health and wellbeing with Local Care Direct

15 community organisations in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield are supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing, thanks to grants from the Local Care Direct Health and Wellbeing Fund. They’re delivering projects and activities designed to help people improve their mental health, feel better about themselves, make new connections to other people and projects, and find new ways of coping with living on a low income. 

The Impact so far

During the first year of their 2-year grants, organisations have already worked with more than 1,000 people. They’re using a wide range of activities to engage people, from art and music, to gardening and cooking. They’re also delivering peer support groups, employment support, text message services, counselling and more. 

Because of their work, 650 people already say their mental wellbeing has improved. 406 have said they’ve got more self-esteem and confidence, while 259 are less lonely. 

Millan Centre’s project

One organisation, Millan Centre, work with South Asian women and girls. They’re using their grant to run one-to-one and group counselling, as well as wellbeing classes like yoga and gardening. Through the sessions, younger and older women are safe to talk openly with each other and share their experiences without feeling shame.

They’ve worked with 180 women and girls so far, with many reporting improved mental health, self-esteem and confidence. They are also making friends within the group, building social networks and feeling less lonely. 

Millan Centre shared the story of one of the women who attends their sessions. A mother of several children, she lives in a house with multiple occupants where old values are reinforced. She suffered from mental health related issues and was unable to access help because of pressures from her family. 

Talking about her experience with Millan Centre, she said “I gained confidence to seek help from other agencies through attending these sessions and I am now able to communicate my issues to the Counsellor without fear of shaming or embarrassment.”

We’re proud to partner with Local Care Direct to deliver the Health and Wellbeing Fund for communities across Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield. You can read our interview with Paul Dean, Local Care Direct’s Company Secretary, to learn more about our partnership, and why they chose to give through Leeds Community Foundation.