Grow Creative Wellbeing in Lancashire

The local economy

Our project contributed to the local economy by investing directly in community-based delivery across Hyndburn and East Lancashire. Funding enabled us to deliver over 64 creative wellbeing sessions, utilising local community venues, purchasing creative resources from local suppliers where possible, and creating opportunities for residents to access free or low-cost wellbeing support close to home. The project also strengthened relationships with local organisations and community partners through networking events, leading to new collaborative opportunities and the use of community spaces in partnership with Hyndburn Leisure. This increases the long-term use of local facilities and supports the sustainability of community services. Importantly, the funding also enabled essential organisational capacity, including project coordination, administration and partnership development. This has strengthened School of You CIC as a local social enterprise, placing us in a stronger position to secure future investment, continue employing local facilitators and expand our creative health offer across Lancashire.

Volunteering, jobs & education

The project invested in the development of volunteers and future facilitators, helping to build skills and confidence within the local community. Funding enabled us to begin creating reflective practice resources that will form part of our emerging Creative Health Facilitator programme, designed to support volunteers, community leaders, care workers and aspiring facilitators. Throughout the project we strengthened volunteering opportunities by involving individuals in community delivery and partnership events, while also creating clearer pathways into future training and facilitation roles. The work has laid the foundations for a sustainable network of Creative Health Ambassadors who will be equipped to deliver creative wellbeing activities within their own communities. Alongside this, strengthened evaluation processes and organisational capacity have improved our ability to secure future funding, supporting long-term employment and volunteer opportunities within the organisation.

Arts, culture & heritage

Arts and creativity were at the heart of every aspect of this project. Participants engaged in a wide range of creative activities including visual arts, creative writing, movement, music, mindfulness, textile work and community stitch projects. These activities provided accessible ways for people to express themselves, build confidence and improve emotional wellbeing. The project also celebrated cultural diversity by bringing together people from different communities, including the Ukrainian community and local residents, through shared creative experiences. Participant artwork was showcased during community pop-up events, helping to raise awareness of creative health while celebrating local creativity and community stories. By embedding creativity within health and wellbeing support, the project demonstrated how arts can play a vital role in reducing isolation, strengthening community identity and improving quality of life.

Activity, health and leisure

Promoting health and wellbeing was the primary focus of the project. Through more than 64 creative wellbeing sessions, approximately 160 people accessed free or affordable opportunities to improve both their mental and emotional wellbeing within welcoming community settings. Sessions combined gentle movement, mindfulness, creative expression, psychoeducation and social connection, encouraging participants to become more active while developing practical wellbeing strategies they could continue using independently. Evaluation showed positive outcomes across all participants who completed the pre and post wellbeing surveys, with improvements in wellbeing, social connection and confidence in using creativity to support their mental health. Participants consistently reported feeling less isolated, calmer, more connected to others and more confident in expressing themselves. By making preventative wellbeing support accessible within local communities, the project has encouraged healthier lifestyles, reduced social isolation and promoted ongoing participation in community leisure and creative activities.