The Tulse Hill Health and Wellbeing Grant programme has now come to a close, after a successful six months of activities. Thanks to funding from Lambeth Council, seven local organisations were awarded grants to set up or expand their health and wellbeing initiatives for residents, directly benefiting 226 local people.
The fund resulted in a large variety of health and wellbeing programmes. These included fitness sessions such as St Matthews Project’s family fitness programme, delivered on Tulse Hill and St Matthews estates. Tulse Hill Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) ran weekly fitness sessions for older residents, and the Wandle Fields Residents Association organised a ‘Chair Pilates’ course. These sessions led to improvements in the physical and mental wellbeing of residents, while also providing fitness activities for those who might typically struggle to access other classes due to a variety of barriers (e.g. childcare, location, cost, accessibility).
“My cholesterol has dropped, and I feel more energised.”
The programme also successfully fostered better social connections, bringing people together through a range of activities. The Wandle Fields Residents Association and Tulse Hill Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) organised engaging events to connect residents with local wellbeing initiatives. Meanwhile St Martin’s Community Centre, launched the fantastic St Martin’s Shed, a space for local people to get involved in group DIY projects, relax and socialise. USMOUND CIC also organised a community food pantry, offering not only free access to food but also challenging the prevalence of social isolation.
“This food bank has been a lifeline for me and my children. It has taken away so much stress and given us hope.”
There was also a variety of activities offered for young people, including taster BMX sessions with Brixton BMX Club and weekly fitness and mentoring sessions for young people from I AM IN ME. These sessions were crucial for introducing new activities, growing confidence and improving wellbeing.
“I feel stronger, like I can do anything.”
Behind the scenes, organisations also received capacity-building support from High Trees, tailored to their individual needs. This included support with bid writing and communications, writing organisational policies, event planning and delivery, and more. The feedback from this support was incredibly positive “High Trees helped us in getting this grant and gave us good capacity building advice on becoming a charity. They went above and beyond!”