SALISBURY-BASED arts and heritage organisations have launched a new wellbeing project after being awarded funding of £260,000.

Well-City Salisbury, brings together the experience and skills of ArtCare, The Salisbury Museum, Wessex Archaeology and Wiltshire Creative.

Over three years, the partner organisations will deliver a total of 24 courses to people who have a mental health need and vulnerable individuals and groups.

The funding for the project has been made available from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Adrian Green, Director of The Salisbury Museum, said: "Supporting the mental health of local people has never been more important. It is very exciting to be able to use the museum's nationally significant collections in creative ways that support people's mental health and enable participants to explore their history and heritage.

This is also an excellent opportunity to strengthen our partnership working with three of the other major arts and heritage venues in the city, to create a strong and resilient programme that reaches out to support more people in and around Salisbury."

ArtCare exhibitions coordinator Lesley Self added: “Using creative and heritage activities, we will engage and inspire our community in a city-wide commitment to support mental health and wellness.”

The launch of Well-City Salisbury coincides with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10-16).

A successful pilot programme for the Well-City Salisbury project carried out in 2020 showed the ability of cultural and creative organisations to support mental health and wellbeing, particularly through building a sense of community.

Chris Brayne, the chief executive of Wessex Archaeology, said: “Salisbury has had a very tough time in recent years. Novichok and the pandemic have each taken their toll - on businesses, on our communities and on individuals. At Wessex Archaeology we know that learning about the past and, in particular, establishing a personal connection with objects and places from the past, can enrich lives in a very powerful way.

"We are lucky enough to have access to this material every day, and we are always looking for ways to share the benefits.

"Well-City is a chance for individuals to experience the changes these connections can bring. As the world begins to open up, we want to use this partnership and other initiatives to bring people together again and begin to help heal our city.”

Well-City Salisbury aims to make a positive change to the mental health of all participants, to utilise the combined strengths of the partner organisations, to create a legacy of trained artists, facilitators and volunteers and to strengthen the local community to make connections and partnerships to improve local mental health support services.

Tim Crarer, Chair of Wiltshire Creative Board of Trustees, added: “We are delighted to be awarded funding for Well-City Salisbury. Particularly in the light of the effects of the pandemic and lockdown, this important partnership project supporting those in our community with their mental health is needed more than ever.”

Get more Salisbury news

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.