Through our work in the preventative mental health space we often hear about the importance of community, connection, and the need for localised, contextual responses to support wellbeing. We also hear about how limited - and at times inaccessible - funding avenues are to support this type of work, especially for smaller or grassroots organisations.
As our network expands we are continuing to see just how many wonderful self formed/ self-funded groups and organisations are out there who are looking for untied funding to support them in getting to that next stage.
Recently, we have had the opportunity to support two such organisations, both community-born local movements with so much to share about their learnings and journeys to date.
Imagine Uraidla
A grassroots movement self-formed around the township of Uraidla and surrounds in response to the changing nature of their place and a desire to reclaim their community identity, and strengthen, reform and create new connections. Imagine Uraidla has supported and inspired a range of community groups and action in-and-around Uraidla over the last 10 years. During this time their understanding of community and connection as protective factors for people's mental health has evolved, sparking a deepening of their work around community wellbeing.
The story of how Imagine Uraidla formed and their achievements to date has caught the interest of neighbouring communities and ones further afield. Imagine Uraidla presents an opportunity to contribute to the ‘place-based narrative’ from the perspective of grassroots community members truly living in, working in, and passionately advocating for their place. Additionally, their learnings and practices to date will no doubt be of interest to other communities looking to start well when it comes to rekindling good old community connection.
We hope the partnership with Imagine Uraidla will support them to invest in their operations and further their community’s aspirations while creating space and time for them to capture and share their insights and practices to the benefit of other local community groups and movements.
Here's to Strength
A community wellness hub inspired by and built on the personal passion and expertise of its founders, and supported by a collective of community members and practitioners, Here's to Strength’s approach is to lead with a safe and fun place for the community to visit that offers connection to health, self care, and other support avenues.
Here’s to Strength presents an opportunity to learn more about the impact of leading with a strengths-based and person-centred approach to wellbeing. By exploring how a community space rather than a clinical space can transform how we think about our wellbeing and the different pathways and avenues for support: from human connection, to addressing social determinants, right through to clinical and therapeutic approaches.
We hope this partnership will enable Here’s to Strength to continue their current offerings and expand in response to the ideas and aspirations shared with them by their community and we see a further opportunity for others to learn from their steps in bringing their vision to life.