Written by Charlie Daw
- Amount Funded: £20,000
- Contact: [email protected]
- Areas: Springfield, Beech Hill, Gidlow, Town Centre
Wigan Borough Community First (WBCF) is pleased to announce that Northern Heart and Soul CIC has been awarded funding through the Thrive in Five programme.
Northern Heart and Soul is a community-led organisation working across Springfield, Beech Hill and Gidlow in Wigan to build a more connected, resilient and self-organising neighbourhood. Since forming in 2021, the organisation has supported local people to shape decisions, strengthen relationships and develop community-led solutions through engagement, events, participatory decision-making, peer support and capacity building.
The organisation creates welcoming opportunities for people to take part in ways that suit their interests and circumstances, with a focus on supporting people who may be underrepresented or disconnected from traditional services. Its work includes creative and community activities such as dog shows, Halloween events, poetry recitals, art exhibitions, a Food Festival, women’s wellbeing, recovery, family craft sessions and nature-based activities.
What is Thrive In Five?
Thrive in Five was created to support new, creative and community-led approaches to improving mental wellbeing across Wigan Borough. WBCF is working closely with Public Health at Wigan Council, who commissioned the programme, and Edge Hill University, who will support the evaluation of its impact.
The programme provides awards of £20,000 to voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations to deliver wellbeing-focused activity for people of all ages and backgrounds. Alongside the funded projects, successful organisations will take part in a Wellbeing Circle, creating an opportunity to share insight, learn from one another and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
Through this approach, Thrive in Five aims to support local wellbeing activity while building the relationships, knowledge and capacity needed to develop sustainable, community-led support across the Borough.
About Northern Heart and Soul
Through its Thrive in Five-funded project, Northern Heart and Soul will deliver a series of free creative workshops for the local community. Activities will include singing, creative writing, nature-inspired art, comedy writing and art sessions, with workshops led by professional artists.
The sessions will provide a welcoming opportunity for people to explore creativity, build confidence, improve their wellbeing and connect with others. By offering free activities within the community, the project aims to reduce some of the barriers associated with paid activities or social settings such as pubs, while giving people the opportunity to try something new or reconnect with interests they may have previously enjoyed.
The project will finish with a community arts festival in 2027, giving participants the opportunity to showcase their skills, celebrate local talent and bring people together. The festival will also provide an opportunity to inspire more people across the community to explore creativity, take up a lost passion or get involved in local activities.
The project will be delivered across Springfield, Beech Hill, Gidlow and Wigan Town Centre, with support from local partners including SBHG Mutual Aid Group and The Community Patch CIC.
For more information about Northern Heart and Soul or its Thrive in Five project, contact Gill Wright at [email protected] or visit https://northernheartandsoul.co.uk/.
Get Involved
You can see more Thrive In Five work through the button below…