Local community groups awarded funding for health and wellbeing projects

14 new projects will be launching across Waltham Forest, led by community groups who have been awarded funding from the Community Chest Grants programme. 

Community Chest is a grant programme that has been running since 2023 and so far has supported over 37 community groups. 

A total of £70,000 was available, with groups able to bid for between £1,000 and £9,999 each to deliver projects that focus on:

• cost of living emergency
• mental wellbeing and loneliness
• digital exclusion
• learning disabilities
• increasing community access to health services and health information

All the funded projects will offer free activities, events and services. They will be available to access as a self-referral, or from a referral by a social prescriber or health care professional.

Cllr Louise Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health said: 

I’m delighted to see this diverse range of community groups have been awarded Community Chest funding. Working closely with our Social Prescribing team, these projects are helping residents across the borough to live happier and healthier lives, reducing inequalities and bringing our communities closer together.

BRICK Arts will celebrate all forms of creativity with regular creative activities and a community arts exhibition at the Leyton Lighthouse food share. 

Dao Lu are running all levels Tai-chi sessions for older adults.

FedNet is working closely with some of the borough’s Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) to organise a community health event to celebrate and encourage more PPGs in Waltham Forest.  

Leyton Boundary Garden run gardening sessions for people with low mood or loneliness in their oasis of calm and greenery. 

Life After Cancer offers peer support and group council for cancer survivors. 

Makeda Makes is offering creative sessions and a safe space to talk mental health for young Black men. 

Read Easy supports residents who struggle with reading or lack confidence in their reading abilities by pairing them with trained volunteers and offering regular sessions at libraries and community spaces. 

Soundcastle and Creative Community Ldn offers a series of music and arts sessions for older adults. 

The Castle Playspace run stay and play sessions for LGBTQ+ families with young children aged 0-5 and their allies, to find safe space and connection.

True you Today works with survivors of gendered abuse by supporting them to reconnect with their bodies. The group brings exercise, coaching and circus skills activities to women affected by violence against women and girls.

Welcome Town Community run cooking sessions, offering nutrition and lifestyle awareness for people with or at risk of diabetes. 

Whale Song Music provides music therapy sessions for young people aged 18-30 with SEND transitioning into adulthood. 

WIILMA support adults living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whether diagnosed or not, by offering creative sessions and a peer support group. 

Yoga4Health Alliance offers a user-friendly, free, and practical yoga programme for anyone seeking a boost to their health and wellbeing.

For more information, email Social.prescribing@walthamforest.gov.uk