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Feeling Good Project aims to improve wellbeing in Braunstone

A new and exciting programme has gone live across Braunstone in Leicester. The ‘Feeling Good’ Project, is funded through Braunstone Community Association, and aims to improve mental wellbeing and enhance positive lifestyles for local residents.

The Braunstone-wide health and wellbeing project is made up of existing local projects delivering under one partnership - Fit and Active Buddies, Streetvibe Youth Project, NACRO Anti-Social Behavior Project, Leicester City Council Welfare Rights Service and Turning Point Women’s Centre - working together to improve the health and happiness of the community through a number of interventions and approaches. The aim of the project is to support and educate people about positive lifestyles, mental health awareness, early interventions and supporting people to develop techniques to look after their own wellbeing.

So what’s being delivered under this fantastic new partnership and approach?

Narco has received funding under the Feeling Good Programme, to organise several community based workshops and programmes that aim to reduce stress, early signs of depression and anxiety and to encourage healthier lifestyles and promote positive wellbeing in venues around the area.

Many people have very hectic lives and sometimes forget to take time out for themselves, which can increase levels of stress. By encouraging and supporting access to a wide range of activities this can help improve well being. The workshops are due to start in September 2008 and there will be four events over the next year, which will include one off workshops / tasters in Indian head massage, Yoga, Reflexology and Rekki. All of these tasters are aimed at supporting people to try out new methods of reducing stress in their life on a daily bases. Furthermore Naroc will be putting on rolling programmes in Yoga, Pilates or Thai Chi which can be accessed across the Braunstone estate.

So if you fancy a new experience and develop new skills look out for these sessions. For more information contact Jo Adams on 0870 170 6942/ 0792 057 1602.

Fit Active Buddies (FAB) are using their existing strong approach of working one-to-one with residents to help then get into physical activity and healthier food advice and support, through the Community Food Project. The FAB project aims to increase self worth and bring positive energy into peoples lives, by building peoples confidence to choose a physical activity that suits them, for example if you want to swim, they swim with you, go to the gym they go with you! It’s like having your every own personal trainer.

The FAB Mentors will work with individuals for about 8 weeks and longer if this is wanted. As well as the one-to-one sessions, FAB offers Fit Chicks, Calorie Killers and TLC which are women and men only groups and a group to address young people’s lifestyle. For more information call the FAB team on 0870 170 6954

Turning Point Women’s Centre is running a unique mentoring and life-coaching programmes for local people to access the opportunity for free and local life coaching or wellbeing mentors, which aims to reduce stress, depression and issues that cause anxiety, using simple and easy techniques which you can use anywhere. These mentors / life coaches will give people the opportunity to talk about aspects of their life that distress or causes them to worry and will support them to overcome these barriers, giving the zest and confidence in life to reach goals and access services.

Turning Point we will be recruiting 24 local people to either be trained in Life Coaching or Health and Welcoming, which enable people to move physical and emotional barriers that stop them reaching their full potential. These life coaching and welcoming mentors will be given free accredited training and full support to access further learning and employment and gain unique never tried before work experience.

If you are you interested in either becoming a life Coach or Welcoming Mentor please contact Ruth Epstein at Turning Point Women’s Centre on 27 Cantrell Road, nip in for a chat, or ring Ruth on 0116 240 5882 / 282 6916.

The Welfare Rights Service are providing local appointments with their adviser to give free benefits advice and help with claim forms or appeals for residents who live on the Braunstone estate. This is available for people who need help to claim benefits due to mental health issues from August 2008. Contact the Welfare Rights Service during office hours on 0116 225 4881 to make a referral.

Streetvibe (Inside out Youth Project) has 4 strands to the Feeling Good Project, firstly developing a group for siblings of children with disabilities that may be at risk of mental distress or need a space to socialize with other young people in a similar situation. Secondly, offering personalised one-to-one / drop in service to young people that have identified needing support around mental health difficulties and positive wellbeing. Thirdly, producing a resource for young people and staff, to raise the awareness of mental health and to reduce stigma around the issue. And finally to build the skills and knowledge base of young people and youth workers in the local area, by undertaking specialised training around mental health.

If this sounds like something you would like to get involved in then please contact Street Vibe Young People Service on 0116 223 2245

For more information about the Feeling Good programme there will be a local launch in early September 2008, meet us in person, so look out for any posters / flyers or give Ruth a ring on 0116 240 5882.

Date: 25 June 2008