Rhyddings Park Wins Funding Bid

A voluntary group looking to improve the health and wellbeing of their local community has recently been given a cash injection.

Friends of Ryhddings Park have secured £4720 in funding, thanks to help from Onward Homes Community Fund.

The group, based in Oswaldtwistle, currently delivers a range of low-cost wellbeing activities including; stress management, yoga, mindfulness, QiGong, Pilates, Bootcamp and sport walking.

While the on-site café contributes towards funding creative activities for residents, and it has quickly become a hub for the community, with more than 200 visitors per week.

The project is run in partnership with HBC and Newground, together with funding from the National Lottery, and the money received will now enable even more activities to be delivered from the centre. (Which are specifically linked to the NHS Five Steps to Wellbeing: Connect, Learn, Be Active, Take Notice, Give to others).

New additions to the programme include; autism events with sensory equipment, a workshop to support young people with exam stress management, and a healthy cookery club.

The group are also set to provide two children’s fun sessions per week during the school holidays, to help beat the half-term boredom.

Ann Warrington, Chair of Friends of Rhyddings Park, said: ‘We really are delighted as this will now enable us to carry on delivering well being activities from the Coach House and extend our offer to the community of Oswaldtwistle & Hyndburn.

‘When we set up the programme, we didn’t really know where we would end up, but we have built it up and developed it, and it has snowballed into something pretty amazing.

‘This is very much a community adventure, and we will continue to consult with the community about what they want us to do, and use this to inform future activities.

‘We also plan to use some of the funding to further invest in the café area, as we work to become self-sufficient and sustainable for the future.’

The Onward Community Fund aims to support local groups and projects.. Underpinned by Onwards mission ‘To make a positive difference in the communities we serve’ groups can bid for up to £5000 for their neighbourhood. Examples could include: IT training, youth projects or community events.

Scott Brent, Community Investment Specialist at Onward, said: “I’ve been really impressed with the activities that the Friends of Rhyddings Park offer. There really is something for everyone, and it’s great that the activities are all underpinned by the NHS’s Five Steps to Wellbeing.

‘The money from the Onward Community Fund will enable a wide range of people from across Hyndburn to benefit from these sessions for the next 12 months’.

For more information please email: socialinvestment@onward.co.uk