If you are feeling anxious, stressed or depressed Click to get info
- Waltham Forest Talking Therapies support people who may be feeling anxious or depressed
- Good Samaritans on 116 123 can listen to your problems
- Good Thinking offer support for issues such as sleep, stress, low mood and anxiety
If you are worried about money or need free, impartial advice, there is support available. Ask for help if you need it from
- @DebtFreeLDN 0800 808 5700
- @CAPuk 0800 328 0006
- Our financial support page
Connect Click to get info
Social connections with people around us- colleagues, friends, family and loved ones- can make us feel happier. Here’s some ideas for how you can connect more even while at home
- Make time to check on friends, family and colleagues- this could be a quick conversation by telephone or face to face meeting over video calls
- Don’t forget to check on those who may live on their own and may be particularly affected by social isolation at this time
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Attend social events and take up opportunities for meeting new people including the ones taking place virtually during the lockdown
- Waltham Forest Culture where residents can access varied cultural activities from the comfort of their homes
- Good Samaritans offer a listening ear if you are worried and need to talk
- Waltham Forest Talking Therapies if you are feeling anxious or depressed
Keep learning Click to get info
Continually mastering new skills, improves self-esteem and reduces depression and anxiety. Now is the perfect time to learn that language or new skill you have always wanted to! Sign up for a class and learn somethings new.
- Waltham Forest Adult Learning service have a variety of courses from creative courses, business, and administration to gardening. Apprentices are also available to help you earn while you learn.
- Start up In London Libraries offer support to help you start a new business email: Sarah.Eschner@walthamforest.gov.uk
- Bags of Taste offer free mentored cooking course virtually to help you make tasty international dishes at home. A free bag of ingredients is also delivered.
Be active Click to get info
Physical activity such as walking, jogging, exercise and sports not only great for our physical health but is known to be one of the best ways to make you look and feel good.
- Go for a walk, jog or run- helps you keep fit while allowing you to get Vitamin D
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Join FREE online and at home fitness resources.
- Our Parks are offering a number of fat burning, high and low intensity live online work outs
- #StayinWorkout movement have a wide range of resources to help you keep fit from home
- NHS 10 minute home workouts have shorter work outs at home
Walking Routes
Route 1: Walk around Fellowship Square Campus: 425m, 6mins
Starting from the Assembly hall, walk around the Fountain to Magistrates building (Farnan Ave) and back
Find the walking route using Google Maps
Route 2: Walk around Chestnut fields, 850m, 10 to 15 mins
Find the walking route using Google Maps.
Route 3: Walthamstow Market, 2.5km, 30 to 35minutes
Fellowship Square to Walthamstow Market (via Hoe Street) and back
Find the walking route using Google Maps.
Route 4: Lloyds Park, 2.9km, 35 to 50minutes
Fellowship Square to Lloyds Park (Using William Morris Entrance) stroll round the park and back to Fellowship Square
Find the walking route using Google Maps
Route 5: Lea Valley Park, 5km, 60 to 65minutes
Fellowship Square to Lea Valley Park, Douglas Eyre Playing fields
Find the walking route using Google Maps.
Cycle Routes
Route 1: Ride around Lloyds Park: 3.5km, 13 to 15mins
Begin at Fellowship Square, then enter the park via the William Morris Gallery entrance, returning back to Fellowship Square via Farnan Ave.
Find the cycle route using Google Maps
Cycle route 1
Route 2: Ride around Wetlands, 4.6km to 25mins
Beginning at Fellowship Square, going down Forest Road and then returning.
Find the cycle route using Google Maps.
Route 3: Ride around Leyton Flats, 8.5 miles, 31 to 35 mins
Beginning at Fellowship Square, heading down Wood Street, past Whipps Cross and around Leyton Flats. Then returning back to Fellowship Square.
Find the cycle route using Google Maps.
Route 4: Ride to Banbury reservoir, 10.1km, 35 to 40 Mins
Leaving Fellowship Square via Billet road, riding around the reservoir, past chalk bridge, and then back to Fellowship Square via Lloyds Park beginning at Fellowship Square
Find the cycle route using Google Maps.
Route 5: Ride to Lee Valley Golf Course, 17km, 55 to 60mins
Heading North from Fellowship Square towards Chingford Mount, past William Girling Reservoir, to Lee Valley Golf Course and back to Fellowship Square following the A406
Find the cycle route using Google Maps.
Take notice Click to get info
Being aware of our feelings, what matters to us and the beautiful world around us can help us be more self-aware and foster our values and happiness. Taking notice of our surroundings can seem difficult during quarantine but here are some ideas you can still enjoy while at home:
- Notice the seasons changing in your garden, local parks, or out of your window.
- Take time to reflect on what matters most to you- what makes you happy, your passions, likes and dislikes.
- Take free online mindfulness training at www.good-thinking.uk
Give Click to get info
Giving or volunteering your time, resources or ideas to a cause you are passionate about, can be very rewarding and lead to a feeling of being useful and appreciated by others and has been shown to improve our feeling of happiness. Remember that by taking care of ourselves we are better equipped to take care of those we love and care about. Here are a few opportunities to volunteer your time:
- Give time to a friend or family member and listen to how they are and what is going on for them.
- Give a smile, words of encouragement or a complement to someone who needs it
- Become a Legend of the Forest to volunteer in Waltham Forest
- Sign up to volunteer from the council website
Five Ways To Wellbeing Campaign Guidance and Resource Pack Click to get info
Mental Health is everyone’s business. We are encouraging all our residents, staff and partners to support our campaign by sharing the following resources amongst your network.
- Campaign Guide and resource pack: Tips and guidance on how to implement the Five Ways to Wellbeing campaign in your area.
We have a range of resources for
- Social media, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
- Outdoor screens including bus stop signs
- and TV screens
To access the free resources please email swabrina.njoku@walthamforest.gov.uk and we'll be happy to send you what you need.
Case studies Click to get info
Read our word document case studies:
- Aysa's story
- Jon's story
- William's story
- Monica's story
- Mitchell's story
- Hope Virgo's story
- Harriet's story
Waltham Forest has been blessed with amazing sceneries and large acres of beautiful nature and green spaces that draws in visitors from across London and the UK. Here are a few MUST SEE sites to visit and things to do, to connect with nature for health and wellbeing:
Supporting Young People’s Health Click to get info
Recent research has shown that the mental health of young people has declined especially over the pandemic. in 2020, one in six (16.0%) children aged 5 to 16 years were identified as having a mental disorder, increasing from one in nine (10.8%) in 2017. The increase was evident in both boys and girls.
The Government has thus released guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
Similarly Waltham Forest’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing campaign offers evidence based solutions young people can take to look after their own wellbeing. If you work with young people please share messages around self help and mental health using our 5 ays to wellbeing resources and guidance and case studies.
Read William's story about supporting his own and others wellbeing during the pandemic
Resources for Schools, Parents and Young People Click to get info
Resources for Schools and Young People
- Kooth offers confidential emotional wellbeing and counselling support to young people aged 11-19 who are feeling low or anxious. Young people can access self-help articles, counselling and moderated forums through the service
- PAPYRUS (young suicide prevention society) offer help online to young people feeling suicidal
- ChildLine offers a confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem.
- Anti-Bullying Alliance offer support to parents and children experiencing bullying
- Young Minds focus on helping younger people with their mental health
- Shout provides free confidential support 24/7 for anyone in crisis.
- The Mix provides a free confidential telephone helpline and online service for young people
Resources for Parents
- Our Children and Family Centres (CFCs) offer fun and educational services, activities, and support for families with young children.
- Flourish offers group support to mothers to talk about how they feel, their worries anxieties and learn to have more fun with their babies. Contact- familysupport@tlpcc.org.uk
- Waltham Forest Family Handbook is for parents and families in Waltham Forest to access support for families over the COVID 19 pandemic.
- Suntrap-at-home offer fun and educational ideas you can do with your children safely at home or in your local green space with a focus on nature and the environment.
More Information and Advice Click to get info
Having good mental wellbeing contributes to your mental health and helps protect you from developing mental illness.
Mental wellbeing is how you are feeling and how well you can cope with daily life.