For the last two years Green Close have been delivering a health and wellbeing programme across Lancashire titled ‘Phoenix Rising.’ Building on the success of The Phoenix Project, Phoenix Rising has art, nature and movement at its core and also draws upon the rich heritage of the area.
Green Close leads on the visual arts element of the work and has partnered with three other key delivery partners Mandala CIC, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and The Gathering Fields to deliver aspects such as yoga, mindful walking and healthy food growing schemes. All partners worked closely with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) Recovery College.
Its aim was to help individuals from deprived and isolated communities’ access high quality support to assist their mental and physical health and wellbeing needs. It aimed to connect with social prescribers and enrich and strengthen the social prescribing offers available in Central & North Lancashire and South Cumbria Lancashire. It also acted as a development opportunity for three not-for-profit organisations to work together to explore how a more connected offer across different disciplines might enhance the participant experience.
The programme was funded by The Thriving Communities Fund with additional investment from Active Lancashire, Lancaster & Morecambe Clinical Commissioning Group, Lancashire & South Cumbria (NHS) Trust, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The Baring Foundation, Kirkby Lonsdale CIC and some private sponsorship.
Research undertaken by Lancaster University investigating the impact of the work on participants showed that workshops reduced depressive symptoms and anxiety and provided a 16% increase in wellbeing.
Phoenix Rising Evaluation Report 2021-22: