The GM Mental Wellbeing Grants programme, funded by Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership and delivered by GMCVO, aims to support people from communities of identity or experience, based in Greater Manchester, that may struggle to achieve higher levels of mental wellbeing.
This case study looks at one of the grant recipients, Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration, who received a grant in 2022 as part of year 3 of the programme.
Who are they?
Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration is a registered charity based in Tonge with the Haulgh, Bolton. They provide a wide-range of different services and activities which are mainly aimed at older Hindus but often include the wider local community.
What do they do?
Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration primarily deliver health and wellbeing services but also deliver an array of other activities. This includes healthy cooking sessions, a radio show, computer classes, pottery sessions, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, and 'knit and natter' sessions where users knit for newly born babies at Bolton Hospital.
“I usually struggle to sleep but after attending the sessions I sleep much better"
What is their project?
Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration received a £750 microgrant to deliver six 'sound bath' sessions. Each one hour session took participants through an immersive journey of differing sounds and frequencies, designed to offer relaxation, emotional release and pain relief. Participants reported that following the session they felt much more relaxed. Each session was followed by refreshments and provides attendees the opportunity to connect with local people.
What impact has the project had?
This funding has allowed Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration to introduce a new activity to their community. The group also secured other local funding to deliver yoga sessions which they have combined with the sound bath sessions to create a wider programme of wellbeing activities. The attendees of these activities created a WhatsApp group chat where they kept in touch throughout the week and provide feedback on the impact of the programme.
"It's so nice to get out of our heads and know we don't have to keep 'doing'!"
Find out more about Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration by contacting them via email.
Find out more about GM Mental Wellbeing Grants.
