Now in its second year, the Totnes Wellbeing Fund is being recognised locally as the Fund that supports small changes which make a big difference to wellbeing in and around Totnes, Devon.
The Totnes Wellbeing Fund offers grants up to £500 to help new initiatives, which preferably have not yet received external funding, and which could really enhance personal, community and environmental wellbeing locally.
We recently launched a new call for applications, and local individuals and groups with ideas for new projects to improve wellbeing have until 17th June, 2016 to apply. NOW plans to select up to four applications for funding in this round, and to invite further applications every six months. People wishing to apply can find an application pack and details of the eligibility criteria here.
NOW Totnes Project Coordinator, Kim Schilling, said, “We’re looking for people with great ideas that will improve the community’s wellbeing, and who need a little financial help to turn great ideas to boost wellbeing into reality”.
Supporting Community Wellbeing
The Totnes Wellbeing Fund supported a range of projects during its pilot phase, and last summer’s Fund recipients – Foxhole Community Garden and Magic Dye House – are now fully under way (videos showcasing them will be available on NOW’s website soon).
This year, three more projects have been awarded funding. They are:
Zest Physiotherapy for Life
Zest Physiotherapy for Life specialises in physiotherapy for older people. With the grant funding, Zest is going to pilot a series of Functional Fitness MOT events for people over 60 in Totnes and Dartington, in May and June 2016.
The Fitness MOTs will be free to attend and will take people through a variety of tests of flexibility, muscle power, balance and aerobic endurance, which will give them an indication of their exercise performance and whether they are doing well compared to peers, or could benefit from being more active.
There will be an opportunity to discuss results with a qualified physiotherapist, and information about local physical activity and exercise opportunities in and around Totnes and Dartington will be available.
To sign up, or for more information, email info@zestphysiotherapyforlife.com or call Pauline on 07975 708130.
The Living Projects
The Living Projects is an initiative in Totnes, set up by young people for young people, to create a viable and sustainable future for themselves and their communities. It was first formed in 2013, having identified a need to increase opportunities for young people in the local area.
This expanding group of 18-29 year olds are developing 4.5 acres of land to grow food, as well as exploring other innovative land-based enterprises and offer educational opportunities.
Some of the grant funding will go towards the construction of a roundhouse which will serve as a community meeting space where they will gather and continue to design and plan the future of the site. They intend to host events and art projects, build agriculture and community gardens, hold regular skill-share events and volunteer days. The rest of the funding will go towards helping realise this vision, through the acquisition of seeds and building materials.
Growing Good Lives – Street Play Festival
Growing Good Lives offers training, coaching and consultancy to help individuals discover what role their particular skills and gifts can play in creatively transforming their communities and workplaces so that all can live well. Growing Good Lives’ approach is grounded in social psychology, ecological economics and cultural practice with the Human Scale Development framework as its foundation.
With the grant funding, Growing Good Lives will hold a one day Street Play Festival in Totnes Civic Square, in celebration of outdoor games traditions from around the world, drawing on first-hand experience of long-standing members of the Totnes community as well as more recent arrivals. The aim is to bring adults and children together to rediscover street game traditions that are dying out due to changes in children’s play patterns and use of public spaces. The festival will bring in partners to contribute food and music to the event.
For Further Information
For more information about the Totnes Wellbeing Fund, click here or contact info@networkofwellbeing.org or telephone: 01803 849107.