A new Bath Shed, a Wellbeing Triathlon and activities for people with learning difficulties are just three local projects to receive funding from the Bath and North East Somerset Community Wellness Fund grant programme.

In total, ten community groups will receive grants to improve mental health and loneliness across the Bath and North East Somerset area.

Virgin Care is responsible for the grant programme as part of its contract with B&NES Council and the local NHS to bring health and care services together and improve outcomes by allowing local people to stay well and proactively look after their health. The grant programme is managed by Quartet Community Foundation, which runs the application and grant award process as well as tracking outcomes.

The programme is aimed at community groups and charities in Bath and North East Somerset, targeting loneliness and isolation, and delivering projects promoting healthy lifestyles to enable local communities to tackle some of the causes of mental ill health.

Claire Wynne Hughes, Philanthropy Executive for B&NES at Quartet Community Foundation, said: “These ten groups are great examples of the kind of small, local causes Quartet supports on behalf of our fund-holder in Bath and North East Somerset. We’re delighted that Virgin Care has asked us to manage this grant programme and award these ten grants on behalf of the Bath and North East Somerset Community Wellness Fund.

“Our Vital Signs research highlighted many of the health and wellbeing chal- lenges faced in the Bath area, including high incidence of cancer in Twerton and Whiteway and the fact that three-quarters of local people want more mental health support available. I’m pleased these grants will help groups improve local health and wellbeing.”

Kirsty Mathews, Managing Director of Bath and North East Somerset Community Health and Care Services for Virgin Care, said: “This round of grants covers a fantastic number of diverse activities and age ranges across the local communities we serve. We appreciate that mental and physical wellbeing is supported by a range of activities and is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.”

We Get It’s Laura Philips said: “We Get It is a vital forum for anyone affected by cancer. As well as being a means of connecting people who understand the rollercoaster of being diagnosed, the group also works to enable living well with cancer. Our Wellness Programme includes yoga workshops, nutrition workshops, and a growing number of fitness groups. We are working on an exciting new project, The Wellness Triathlon, which we are hoping to launch soon and which will be a wonderful way of reaching out to the cancer community in Bath. The funding from the Bath and North East Somerset Community Wellness Fund through Quartet will enable us to make these important projects happen.”

Philippa Forsey, of Creativity Works, said: “We are delighted with being awarded a grant through Quartet from the Bath and North East Somerset Community Wellness Fund. This means that Writing Space can continue to meet regularly in Bath and support each other. The group never fail to inspire with the depth and quality of their writing and we are very much looking forward to the publication of their next Anthology, which will be out this Spring.”

The full list of groups benefiting from grants in this round:

• Bath City Farm received £1,930 for set up costs for a base for the new Bath Shed group, which will offer older people practical and creative activities including woodwork, mechanics and electronics.

• Carers’ Centre B&NES (Care Network) received £1,800 to offer rewarding social activities that bring unpaid carers together to learn, create and support each other in the B&NES area.

• First Steps (Bath) received £1,200 towards their Healthy Meals for Preschool Children in Bath project, offering free, nutritionally balanced midday meals for young children from families on low incomes. The project promotes healthy living and supports the children’s learning and development.

• Genesis Trust received £2,000 towards Life Skills courses, which improve wellbeing for vulnerable adults. These will focus on reducing social isolation, increasing confidence and self-esteem and developing healthier lifestyle choices.

• SWALLOW received £1,994 to run a Loss and Bereavement Awareness training workshop for SWALLOW support staff. They will also run group sessions with their members, who all have learning difficulties, so they can talk openly about loss.

Three Ways School received £2,000 to train and implement Mental Health First Aid Training for staff and develop a support package for young people and staff at the school. Three Ways School specialises in supporting children with Special Educational Needs.

Time Bank Plus received £1,980 for The Sewing & Upcycling project so people in SW Bath can develop the skills to make or modify their own clothes within a small, supportive group.

Bath Gateway Out & About received £1,456 to offer people with learning difficulties activities to improve their physical health through healthy food options, cooking lessons and trying out a range of physical activity.