Inner World Arts received funding from LLDC’s Neighbourhood Priorities Fund for a Climbing and Wellbeing project with the Hackney Wick Boulder Centre to deliver free of charge climbing lessons and entry for those experiencing mental health problems

Inner World Arts brings communities together. They help their clients step outside the immediacy of their situation and see their lives from a different perspective. They work collaboratively, addressing social, cultural or environmental issues, using social prescribing for a range of creative and physical activities including; visual arts, climbing, music and radio and creative writing, to engage, empower, build bridges and celebrate diversity and difference. Climbing has a multitude of physical and mental health benefits, the skills learned can be useful in dealing with the day to day challenges of our modern lives. Climbing represents the surmounting of obstacles.  It can teach people to problem solve, concentrate and focus as well as providing an excellent sense of achievement.

The Hackney Wick Boulder Project is running bouldering sessions for 40 people from Hackney Wick who experience mental ill health and want to improve their health and skills at the same time. The year-long programme includes one to one bouldering sessions with a qualified climbing instructor from the local area with experience of working in mental health. Inner World Arts, a local charity, applied for funding from the London Legacy Development Corporation via our Neighbourhood Priorities Fund to help support this programme.

This project aims to increase the skills and health of the participants. By reducing the social isolation of the participants, their mental health should improve and their physical health will benefit from the bouldering itself which in turn can lead to an increase in confidence and self-esteem and supporting participants in making new friends. This project is an example of how the Neighbourhood Priorities Fund can benefit not just the whole community but also specific members of the community with issues that may not be addressed otherwise.

Simona Pretara, CEO and Founder from Inner World Arts said:

“We are pleased that we have received funding from the London Legacy Development Corporation’s Neighbourhood Priorities Fund to create a Climbing and Wellbeing project with our good friends at the Hackney Wick Boulder Centre to deliver free of charge, evidence based climbing lessons and entry for those experiencing mental health concerns referred to us by Core Arts and  neighbouring partners.”

To apply for this year’s round of funding please visit /planning-authority/planning-policy/community-infrastructure-levies and apply by 3 August 2019.