17 Apr 2018
We’re celebrating the work of charities in Warrington over the last year to improve health in our community.
Charities used our Healthy Communities Fund to support hundreds of people on health issues over the last 12 months.
Our fund offered small grants to charities able to demonstrate how their project would improve health for people in Warrington:
- Beat, the UK’s eating disorders charity, recruited and deployed five Warrington-based volunteers to support people with eating disorders via their helpline and online chat services. They’ve helped more than 150 people through phone calls, answering emails and moderating online group sessions: “Thank you so much, even just being listened to is really helpful. I feel better talking to someone who gets it and doesn't judge me.” BEAT helpline service user
- Active Cheshire tested a model for free community walks with older people, in partnership with a Warrington GP surgery – getting groups out in all weathers to enjoy an accessible walk together: “I know from talking to others that the walks have, for them, been an opportunity to get out for possibly their first walk in many a year and, to them, this has been a godsend.” Walk2Talk group member
- Warrington Youth Club ran free health and fitness sessions for young girls and young people with disabilities. 82% of those taking part said they felt more confident as a result; 73% said they felt physically fitter, stronger and healthier and 85% now want to do more physical activity. “Before she joined the exercise class she was extremely sedentary and introverted. She rarely left her bedroom and would sit on her bed all evening. The exercise class improved her mood, she made friends there and she was always more sociable after class. She’s been asking every week when she can go back.” Mum of participant
- Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation fed 160 children attending summer holiday activity programmes designed to help tackle hunger, inactivity and isolation in low-income families while school’s out. “The provision of a daily meal ensured that the physical, social and emotional benefits of the programme were reinforced for those most in need, resulting in happier and healthier children going back to school in September.” James Howes, Sport and Lifestyles Manager, Warrington Wolves Foundation.
Our Head of Public Affairs, Claire Rick, says: “Charities often tell us that it’s the smaller donations which are always the hardest to fundraise – which is why we were so keen to run the scheme in this way. We’re delighted to see how much they’ve been able to achieve in just one year.”
Our 2018-19 fund will open for applications in the next few months.