£30,000 grant brings wellbeing opportunities to Broxtowe residents

One recent activity was experiencing our local waterways from a paddle board, thanks to the grant that was made possible through the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) from the UK Government, matched with over £9,000 from Nottinghamshire MIND. 

The #Well Programme is aimed at fostering community connectivity, addressing health inequalities, and improving wellbeing. The project is helping to tackle isolation, promote peer support, and enhance resilience among individuals in the Broxtowe community.

The three elements of the programme are:

• #Well Cafés which offer 'Get Togethers' that provide a welcoming space for individuals to connect with like-minded people in the community.
• #Well Informed are personalised one-on-one sessions designed to provide targeted support to individuals going through a challenging period
• #Well Community, which aims to establish partnerships that will offer individuals opportunities to participate in various events and activities.

The #Well Cafes offer weekly drop-in sessions in Eastwood, Chilwell and Beeston and are open and welcoming to all.

Annalise Porter from Nottinghamshire MIND said, ‘We have 3 cafes across Broxtowe designed to connect individuals to like-minded people in the community. The cafes are an opportunity to share wellbeing tips, interests, and skills. One of our Recovery Coaches will attend each session to help guide the conversation and identify alternative support and signposting. Social connection is important for everyone’s wellbeing. Attendees benefit from being part of a group, sharing a sense of belonging, meaning and purpose.’

Councillor Milan Radulovic MBE, Leader of Broxtowe Borough Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management said, ‘The #Well Programme really highlights the wide range of projects that are benefitting Broxtowe’s people as part of our 2024/25 allocation of UKSPF Funding from the UK Government. The range of activity will, I am sure, help those who are going through challenging times and provide a place for people to come together to get mutual support and improve their wellbeing.’

The #Well Cafes are available for anyone to drop in for a chat, which you can find at:

• #Well Café Eastwood, Thursdays 10am-12pm at the New Horizon Church, Unit 1, Linkmel Road, NG16 3RZ. Refreshments are available to purchase.
• #Well Café Chilwell, Wednesdays 10.30am-12pm at Nottinghamshire Mind, 318 High Road, Chilwell, NG9 5EG. Free refreshments are available.
• #Well Café Beeston, Thursdays from 1pm-3pm at Canalside Heritage Centre, Beeston NG9 1LZ. Free refreshments are available.

Broxtowe residents who took part in the paddle boarding said the following;

‘Paddle boarding was great. Everyone was so friendly, brilliant tuition and company. I loved the peace of drifting along the water.’

“I loved it, it was so inclusive. The instructors and Notts Mind staff were so thoughtful and easy to talk to. Amazing set up, really easy to join in, made me feel safe. I finally got to try this amazing sport I have been wanting to do for many years but was too scared. Thank you for making it possible.”

“I enjoyed the paddle boarding, it was great exercise. It was good to distract my mind for a while of other life problems. I really did feel the benefit of doing it. I would love to do it again.”

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is UK Government funded and Broxtowe Borough Council has been allocated a total of £2,584,477 over a three-year period 2022-25. Activity funded in 2024/5 includes local business, skills and community projects, including a set of community grant-funded projects.