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A social prescribing project, Well-City Salisbury was launched in October 2021 by Wessex Archaeology in partnership with Wiltshire Creative, The Salisbury Museum and ArtCare. The project is about connection – to the arts, the landscape, heritage, community and each other – and provides creative courses for adults and young people aged 14 onwards with low to moderate mental health needs.
The top-level aims of the project are:
To make a positive change to the mental health of everyone involved
To utilise the combined strengths of the four partner organisations to become an exemplar model of creative cultural and heritage intervention
To create a legacy of trained artists, facilitators and volunteers who will work to benefit those with a mental health need in their community
To strengthen the local community by continuously developing connections and partnerships that will improve mental health support services in Salisbury and across Wiltshire
The idea for Well-City Salisbury was developed by our in-house heritage inclusion experts who realised, having built a strong connection with the local community, that there was a significant lack of similar services within the area. The project runs from September to August each year and has grown thanks to the support of our funding partners.
Improving mental health through courses that encourage expression and creativity
There are eight courses per year and each course comprises 10 sessions that last approximately two-and-a-half hours. The first session is a welcome one and this enables participants to figure out their journey, meet the delivery team plus the other participants (there is a maximum of 12 per course) and alleviate any anxieties. Participants are also asked to identify any goals they would like to work towards as part of the course.
The next set of sessions focus on a specific theme and typically involve a local artist or creative practitioner. If a course is being driven by us, we will always bring in one of our specialists to share their knowledge and passion for archaeology. Previously, some of our archaeologists have led walks around the local area while on a separate course, our finds experts have spoken about pottery and other interesting discoveries. We have also held interactive sessions in the environmental processing room, allowing participants to move between different stations and fully immerse themselves in the activities on offer.
The final session on every course is designed for reflection and celebration. During this gathering, which is usually held two weeks after the last creative session, participants can reflect on their course experience and enjoy tea and cake alongside the delivery team. There is also an opportunity to provide feedback via an evaluation form.
Removing barriers to ensure access for all
To create access for anyone who may be interested in our courses, we identified potential barriers and actively removed them. As a result, all courses are free of charge, transport costs are covered if necessary and each year we deliver at least one course online to accommodate people who cannot leave their house. What's more, we provide break and/or lunch alongside standard refreshments to support those who may be struggling with the cost of living. At the end of every session, participants are welcome to take away any food that is left over.
Participants access a course via self-referral or referral from a third party. We strive to accept every application and if we feel a person’s needs are more complex than we can manage, we will invite their carer/support worker to take part alongside them.
A continued experience
The end of a course does not signal the end of a person’s Well-City journey. Instead, they can either sign onto another course or take part in a different opportunity of ours, including art club and placement opportunities.
Listening to feedback is extremely important to us and we decided to launch art club after many participants expressed a desire to continue their engagement with Well-City beyond the standard course model. The club takes place once a month at Salisbury Playhouse and allows participants to remain connected while expressing themselves through creativity.
If a person applies for another course but we feel they are ready to push themselves further, we may suggest they become a course volunteer. Alternatively, we may suggest a Personal Project and Placement (PPP) opportunity, which is where participants undertake their own research project with the support of an artist and partner organisation. Below is one example of the feedback we’ve received:
“My journey has been amazing; I’ve felt supported throughout and have found the process really rewarding. My project was based on my three visits to Wessex Archaeology – the visits were welcoming and incredibly informative. It’s definitely left me feeling more confident and I can’t wait to do further courses and projects.”
Participants who have undertaken a PPP can also benefit from three additional offerings:
Workshops and training sessions – this is where artists, colleagues or members of the community lead a talk or workshop in a particular area or subject that will help participants outside of the project, such as relaxation techniques
Open art space – participants can access the art room at Wiltshire Creative and either collaborate or work on their own projects while still surrounded by company. It is essentially a safe, creative space where people can meet
Volunteering opportunities – we have a variety of opportunities available courtesy of all four partner organisations
Overcoming challenges and recognising achievements
In terms of achievements, the biggest one by far is the impact the project has had on participants. When giving feedback, all of them report an improvement in their mental health and this in turn has a positive effect on their family and friends. Below are two examples of the feedback we’ve received:
“I feel more connected to other people and it’s given me something to look forward to once a week.”
“Definitely has helped me look forward to something in the week, it allows me to be somewhere I don’t feel pressure and escape from my mind.”
The full impact is captured in the Year 1 and Year 2 evaluation reports, the first of which was written by evaluators at Manchester Metropolitan University and the second at the University of Birmingham. As recorded in the reports, the most common benefits include:
Something to look forward to each week
A reason to leave the house
Increased confidence
Reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation
A sense of emotional relief through being creative and expressing their feelings
A distraction from intrusive and/or anxious thoughts
A sense of accomplishment
Another key success is the cross-sector model. Well-City is proof that different partners can team up and create something truly valuable, whilst learning from each other and strengthening their own ways of working.
Regarding challenges, it is not uncommon for a person to experience a mental health crisis during a session – indeed, this has happened on numerous occasions. However, organisers and artists are all equipped to deal with this kind of incident thanks to a wealth of training qualifications that are renewed on a regular basis. These include Mental Health First Aid, The Layers of Neurodiversity, Facilitating Mental Wellbeing through Creativity and more.
A separate challenge arose when Salisbury Museum announced they would have to step away from the project due to limited staff availability. Needing to fill the gap, we approached Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and suggested it serve as a guest delivery partner. The charity agreed and went on to deliver a single course, which was a huge success. It has now accepted the role of project partner and will offer courses that focus on nature and wildlife, giving the project further scope for activities.
In 2024, Well-City Salisbury received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund for an additional three years of activity, starting in Spring 2025.