Every Friday we will welcome people to join us at The Hub for an afternoon of activities, providing the opportunity for people struggling with loneliness and isolation to talk, meet people and learn new skills. Bonterre CIC is an education project set up on a beautiful 8-acre small-holding on Top Barn Farm, Worcester. We wish to increase the number of people able to benefit from the activities and experiences we can offer. People attending the Hub will be able to participate in activities such as floristry, arts and crafts, cooking, horticulture, animal care and experience the health benefits of increased activity and being in the natural environment. Alternatively, participants may just wish to relax watch. The NHS identify 5 steps to improving mental wellbeing: 1. Connect with other people; 2. Be physically active; 3. Learn new skills; 4. Give to others; and 5. Pay attention to the the present. The Hub will provide the opportunity for participants to achieve all five steps.

What we'll deliver:

• Establishment and promotion of a new Wellbeing Hub
• Purchase of tools, equipment and materials for sessions
• We will run 20 sessions with planned activities to teach new skills or rekindle interest in old skill

Why it's a great idea:

According to Age UK in 2019 more than 35,000 older people suffered from acute loneliness in Worcestershire. Since the Covid pandemic this figure has dramatically increased, and it is reported that 2 in 5 people in Worcester suffered lockdown loneliness. Whilst The Hub will not solve the problem completely, it will provide a supportive and gentle first step to helping many people to connect and to learn new skills, both factors in improving our mental wellbeing. It is hoped that a renewed self confidence will result in people reaching out to neighbours and others in a similar situation. We believe that for many, being at Bonterre will open up new areas of interest, such as horticulture, floristry or gardening or reinvigorate old passions. We hope that this will in turn lead many to volunteer at the education project and give back to the community and (subject to the necessary safeguarding protocols) help support the children we help to support on the project.

Steps to get it done:

• Marketing and promotion of new community hub
• Running first session
• Running tenth session

To reach the widest audience, as well as digital platforms such as Facebook and websites, we will also seek other means of promotion, such as posters on local community noticeboards and through engagement with local partners, such as AgeUK, Mind and GP surgeries.