People in Neath Port Talbot are supporting community wellbeing

People who live and work at Geraint House are focused on improving their wellbeing and looking after their mental health. In their home they have a wellbeing chalk board which contains inspirational quotes, daily tips for improving wellbeing, and information about activities and events that people can attend. 

Together they decided to take their positive actions further and work with their community to help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and support others to improve their wellbeing too.

Their first goal was to build strong connections with the Port Talbot community. At a house meeting they suggested ideas for activities and events they could host to introduce themselves to their neighbours. The most popular idea was a community walking group. People at Geraint House already walked together, so they decided to open the invitation to their neighbourhood. 

Wendy knew somebody from the street from her school days, so she invited them and encouraged them to extend the invite to their family, friends and other people they knew in the neighbourhood.

Wendy said:

“Walking has really helped me with my mental health so I hoped that we would be able to help others too.”

mirus staff also already had connections with lots of the neighbours and told them all about the new neighbourhood walking group.

The group started with small walks around the local park to get to know each other. Soon relationships had grown, and people felt confident enough to go on longer walks and invite more people they had never met to join them. 

“Walking together as a group made us feel like we are part of our local community. It’s not ‘them’ and ‘us’ anymore and we have all improved our wellbeing together.”

The success of the walking group prompted people at Geraint House to hold another house meeting to discuss how they could take their idea even further. They designed a leaflet and posted them around the neighbourhood so that news of the walking group would reach even more people.

As word spread the walking group became even more popular, and the confidence of it’s original members increased.

The group has brought lots of people together, and has improved relationships with the community. The walking group is still going and the people at Geraint’s House plan to introduce other activities including regular coffee mornings to their community events schedule.