In Funding Stories, Physical & mental health, wellbeing & safety

Project: Mind Body Community – Yoga for mental wellbeing
Grant: £1,500
Fund: Rectory Homes

Buckinghamshire Mind is a charity working to support and represent people with mental health problems across the county by providing high quality services.

From reviewing service user feedback they identified a gap in mental health services and options for younger adults aged 18-30 within the Aylesbury Vale area and applied for funding for their ‘Mind, Body, Community’ project.

They were awarded a grant of £1,500 to run a 10-week therapeutic yoga course, enabling them to provide a safe environment for young people to come together weekly in a way that increases their physical and mental health, as well as helping to improve their social isolation.

Following the course, each attendee reported the yoga had enabled them to reduce their anxiety levels and build in confidence. Three members of the group have also continued to meet regularly and do yoga together as well as meet socially.

For specific service users who experienced PTSD and Fibromyalgia the yoga (movement, breathing exercises and relaxation) gave them tools to manage pain, limited movement and ability to switch off from disturbing thoughts and memories.

The service users also reported that they benefitted from being able to meet people of their own age, unlike within the other services they have used which were mainly attended by much older adults.