Live Well Wakefield works with lots of local people to explore their social, emotional and practical needs, supporting them to connect with local services and community groups that help them feel happier and healthier.

The team noticed that more low level mental health support is needed in Castleford, Airedale, Pontefract, Knottingley and the South East for working age adults (ages 26-50).

So we opened a new round of grants in February 2025 to fund charities, community groups, sports clubs, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises to:

• Develop new community services which respond to gaps identified within communities.
• Increase the sustainability of existing grassroots community services.
• Scale up existing provision to meet demand.

£92,610 was awarded to 8 local organisations in April and we're pleased to share that:

• This will increase capacity for the organisations to accept new referrals from Live Well Wakefield and develop referral pathways so there is ongoing support for people.
• The majority of organisations have been funded for two years, increasing the sustainability of projects and the relationships they can build with the people they're supporting.

Here are some details about the organisations and projects that were successful…

5 Towns Veterans Support Hub

Mental Health Support for Veterans and their Families

The 5 Towns Veterans Support Hub offers drop-in centres where veterans and their families can seek help in a relaxing and friendly environment. Services include advice, advocacy, and help for those dealing with mental health issues including PTSD, social isolation and relating to the cost-of-living crisis. The Live Well funding secured in this round will be used to maintain the drop-in service, as well as phone and email support, and to expand the popular coffee mornings from 1 day to 3 days per week. During these sessions, the Hub will offer the opportunity for one-to-one chats for veterans or members of their families. This funding is for one year.

Bless Community Support

Reaching Out, Welcoming In

Bless Community Support is based in Upton and Hemsworth. They host over 13 different weekly social and welfare activities across both villages to relieve isolation and increase well-being. This two-year funding will be used to support the appointment of an additional sessional worker, enabling Bless to scale up their provision to meet increasing demand across both villages. The sessional worker will play a crucial role in helping to manage projects, build relationships within the community, and provide appropriate support to those who are the most socially isolated to enable them to be happier and healthier.

Featherstone Rovers Foundation, Tigers Trust and Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation

Offload

The Live Well Funding will be used by the three rugby club foundations to expand the national Offload project into Wakefield District in partnership with Rugby League Cares. This initiative provides vital mental health awareness, education, and long-term social support for men from disadvantaged backgrounds. It focuses on key topics such as stress management, emotional regulation, resilience, challenging negative thinking, life balance, and goalsetting. The program will be delivered within the district’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, ensuring accessibility for those who need it most. Each of the three rugby foundations will run two cohorts of six-week drop-in Offload sessions each year, over two years. These will be held at Rugby League Foundation stadiums, training facilities, and community clubs situated in the most deprived areas.

St George’s Lupset

No Bulls Hit Men's Wellbeing Project

No Bull’s Hit is a weekly men's social group providing games, other social activities and a warm, nutritious meal. Members benefit from an environment where they can meet with confidence and safety, and, through social interaction, improve their understanding and level of mental health and wellbeing. Its members have benefitted from meeting new people, sharing experiences, learning new things, and offering support to each other. The group's activities have been developed by the members themselves and will continue to evolve in response to their changing experiences and preferences. The Live Well Funding will be used to support the continuation of this project for the next two years, and work towards making it sustainable in the longer term.

St Mary's Chequerfield Community Project

Care to Talk Peer Support Group Sessions

This project is a collaboration between St Mary’s Community Centre in South Pontefract and Care to Talk, a well-established peer-support group that has been hosted at St Mary’s for several years. It provides safe, welcoming sessions for adults experiencing mental health challenges, incorporating structured activities such as crafting, mindfulness, and guest speakers. The group also arranges excursions to improve well-being and offers one-to-one support for those needing extra reassurance. The one-year Live Well funding will enable expansion of the peer support service to meet increased demand. The project aims to address local need by increasing access to mental health support, reducing isolation, and fostering community resilience.

Turning Minds Around

Expanding Connections: Bridging Support Across Wakefield

Turning Minds Around provide essential mental health support and counselling services, offering a holistic approach to client care. Two-year funding provided through this round of Live Well Small Grants will enable Turning Minds Around to offer remote counselling sessions to clients in order to improve accessibility to services and reduce barriers to mental health support, ensuring that individuals who struggle with transportation, mobility issues, or other constraints can still receive the care they need. Turning Minds Around will use digital solutions including Google Meets, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, allowing clients to access services via smartphones, PCs, and laptops. This hybrid approach enables a face-to-face option while embracing the convenience of remote support.

Interested in future rounds of funding? Attend the online Meet The Funder session on 26 June for an in-depth look ahead of the next round this year.