We're involved in an exciting, new partnership project that will focus on using the Nottingham and Beeston Canal to help boost people's physical and mental health.
Nearly £50,000 has been awarded to Nottingham through The Thriving Communities Fund to run this innovative community project. The project will utilise the canal to provide physical activity, art, heritage and other support to people referred through social prescribing pathways.
People living along the length of the canal, which runs from Nottingham to Beeston, will have access to a variety of activities to help boost their physical and mental health, including canoe and paddleboard sessions, gardening along the canal, volunteering opportunities and wellbeing walks. There will also be the opportunity to join photography courses, art activities, cookery classes and, when Covid-19 restrictions allow, communal meals at venues along the canal.
Who is involved?
The project is being run by a partnership of local organisations including the Canal & River Trust which is leading on the project alongside NCVS, Notts County Foundation, Canalside Heritage Centre, Nottingham Photographers Hub and local foodbank Himmah.
NCVS's role will include liaising with Nottingham's Social Prescribing Link Workers and local community-based organisations to develop social prescribing pathways and progression routes. We will also recruit and train volunteers to build capacity within the partnership.
The project is one of 37 across England which are being funded by the Thriving Communities Fund and delivered in a unique partnership between the National Academy for Social Prescribing, Arts Council England, Historic England, Natural England, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Sport England, the Money & Pensions Service and NHS Charities Together.
Linny Beaumont, Partnerships & External Relationships Manager for the Canal & River Trust, said, “Research tells us that spending time by water can help us to feel happier and healthier and we firmly believe that the canal, which runs for five miles through some of our most populated areas, is uniquely placed to help address some of the big health challenges faced in the city.
“We’re delighted to have secured this Thriving Communities funding, and to be working with such a talented and diverse partnership to give local people access to a range of activities which we really hope will give them the help they need.”
More information about social prescribing
Social prescribing is where GPs and other primary care professionals refer people to non-clinical services to support their health and wellbeing. Typically this is done through a link worker who will connect people with local charities, services, and community groups for practical and emotional support.
The Thriving Communities project complements work that NCVS has already been doing around green social prescribing, having recently committed with Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Nottingham Integrated Care Partnership to be a main partner in the delivery of the recently announced Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Green Social Prescribing Programme.
