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'Being on our canals has proven mental health benefits': LLR charities receive £500,000

23 charities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will bolster mental health services locally

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 29th Jan 2023

Charities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will bolster local mental health and wellbeing services thanks to £500,000 in funding.

The money comes as part of the Getting Help in Neighbourhoods programme (GHIN), and will go towards increasing activities in local communities.

An art session underway at Rutland mental health charity Pepper's

Funded by the NHS in partnership with Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council, this latest round has seen £500,000 awarded to 23 voluntary and community sector partners (VCS) organisations.

The Rutland-serving charities to receive the latest round of investment are:

  • Headstrong Wellbeing CIC
  • Leicester Counselling Centre
  • Leicester LGBT Centre
  • Pepper's, A Safe Place
  • Root-and-Branch out CIC
  • Rural Community Council

Anna Watson, from the wellbeing and mental health support organisation, Pepper's, A Safe Place, says she was thrilled to receive the funding:

'There's so much hard work that goes on locally, so for so many of us to have benefitted from it is really positive.'

'After the lockdowns, after the pandemic, we've really seen a lot of people struggling with their mental health. Lots of people that haven't struggled before - so this funding is invaluable really.'

Wellbeing on our waterways

Tim Marren is CEO of the East Midlands based canal boat charity Peter Le Marchant Trust, he says the investment will help them to help others:

'Getting people close to water, whether it's a canal a lake or the coast - they make TV programmes about it. It's all about the stimulation of the mind, the relaxation; the calming effect that it has. That's where we're very strong.'

'The fundamentals behind this is to get people on the local waterways to reap the benefits, the proven health and wellbeing benefits of the waterways...'

'...It could be engaging with our crews, it could be engaging with the local wildlife and nature.'

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