From left; Breathing Space chairman Noel Dixon, The Revd Michael Peers, Breathing Space secretary David Wilcox, and Breathing Space project co-ordinator Gillie Boggan.
A community project which supports health and wellbeing has received a welcome funding boost of £83,000.
Breathing Space provides a rural church base in County Durham for groups, organisations and individuals to explore and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
Based at the historic St Michael & All Angels Church in Witton Gilbert, the registered charity runs courses, activities and events both within the church grounds, and at the Witton Dene Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
Now Breathing Space has been awarded funding from the National Lottery. The organisation’s chairman Noel Dixon said the cash will cover essential costs for the next three years. As well as supporting core costs, it will finance some of Breathing Space’s activities, complementing other funding which is sourced from elsewhere.
“We’re very grateful,” said Noel. “We received Lottery funding four years ago and that was due to run out this summer. We were encouraged to apply again and it is great to see such support for the work that we do, which can make a huge difference to people’s lives.”
The practical activities on offer at Breathing Space enable people to remove themselves from surroundings which can cause anxiety. Focusing on practical challenges enable participants to improve their confidence and self-esteem, while the natural environment is used to support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
There are several core activities which form the basis of the charity’s work, thanks to the commitment of dedicated volunteers and qualified specialists. Breathing Space offers mindfulness sessions and counselling, as well as other initiatives.
Get Active Again is a gentle, mainly seated exercise aimed at those who want to increase their physical activity. Most participants attend group sessions in community spaces at Witton Gilbert and Sacriston. Doorstep activities are delivered to those unable to attend the group sessions. Separately, a Tai Chi class is held in the churchyard.
The Woodland Wonders Programme is a platform for children and families to work together, be creative and solve practical problems in an idyllic woodland setting.
There’s also opportunities to take part in folk singing, creative writing, arts and crafts, as well as organised walks, while the Men’s Shed initiative involves construction and maintenance work in the adjoining nature reserve, as well as work with wood to construct bird boxes, hedgehog shelters and walking poles. Fishing and golf days are supplementary and offered as a thank you for work achieved.
In his chairman’s report for 2023, Noel paid tribute to two stalwarts of the organisation, Brenda Gilmore and Penny Minney, who have both passed away within the past year. The pair had been crucial to generating essential funding in the years before Lottery grants were secured. Noel said they are greatly missed.
He added: “These two inspirational ladies are the major reason for the long-term success of Breathing Space. They kept us going almost month to month until we received longer term funding.”
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