Based in County Durham, Northern Heartlands is a charity that brings together artists, individuals, community groups, schools and organisations to create performances, activities and events that change how people feel about themselves and the places they live in.

Having successfully applied for £10,000 through our 'Know Your Neighbourhood' grant programme, they ran Take Part in Teesdale - a series of free creative arts and craft sessions, held in community spaces in the former pit villages of Teesdale, Co Durham. Sessions included photography, cyanotype printmaking, filmmaking, creative writing, textiles and more. 

Project aims

"Our Take Part in Teesdale project aimed to tackle loneliness and isolation through arts and creativity," explains Lyndsey Middleton, Creative Communities Coordinator at Northern Heartlands. "We wanted to help improve health and wellbeing outcomes for adults living in rural Teesdale, in particular in four remote and isolated villages - Butterknowle, Cockfield, Evenwood and Woodland." 

Finding participants

"We worked closely with Social Prescribing Link Workers to connect with participants, so we could work with those most in need," says Lyndsey. "This strong working relationship not only helped us identify participants, but the Link Workers also attended sessions with participants who needed initial support to come along for the first time. This has supported participants who have a range of backgrounds and health issues, including loneliness and anxiety, isolation, depression, bipolar, Autism and other general health and mobility issues.

"We were also able to signpost participants who self-referred into the project to the Link Workers, who were then able to provide additional support to them."

Having an impact

"The project was a special experience for everyone involved, and each participant benefited tremendously in their individual way," says Lyndsey. "Participants reported feeling better, seeing things from different perspectives, feeling more resilient and confident. This led to new connections being made and friendships within communities, which in turn has improved mental health and wellbeing, and reduced loneliness and social isolation."

Problems solved

"The main challenge in engaging with participants was lack of suitable transport in the area," says Lyndsey. "To mitigate this, we used a local community transport bus for those who needed transport - and, as an added benefit, created a connection with the transport provider that will stand us in good stead for future projects."

Celebrating the journey, not the outcome

Rather than hold a celebration event/exhibition at the end of the sessions, Northern Heartlands held one during the middle of the project. Not only did this let people inside the creative process (and welcome new ideas and feedback), but it also helped spread the word to potential participants for the remaining sessions.

"Work was displayed at a community event and some participants helped facilitate a zine-making workshop as part of a wider community event in Butterknowle," explains Lyndsey. "This sharing of skills and ideas increased confidence and enabled greater connection with others beyond the group, whilst also acting as an opportunity to promote and raise awareness of the project and sessions themselves to a wider audience."

Making art - making connections

Here's what some of the participants had to say about Take Part in Teesdale - and see below for one powerful, life-changing testimonial . . .

“Joining the class has really helped me so much with my own mental wellbeing.”

“I have made some really good friends, and enjoyed all of it."

“Everyone in the group we have formed is so happy.”

“We are all loving what we have been participating in, and are so excited for the next one.”

“It's been really lovely over the past few months to have met so many wonderful people who I have enjoyed the company of.”

A life-changing story

Participant 'A' was referred to Take Part in Teesdale by a Social Prescribing Link Worker, who described her as suffering from depression, experiencing trauma in her past, and feeling socially isolated - and said she was now looking for social interaction and activities to boost her wellbeing.  

The participant attended 13 sessions, during which she engaged in experimental photography, drawing, filmmaking, creative writing and textiles. The artists involved used creative prompts such as homing in on small details, colour palettes, personification and visualisation to encourage creative enquiry.  

She made strong connections in the workshops that then flourished into friendships, and found the classes cathartic, bringing a source of peace to her life that was needed amongst her day-to-day struggles. 

After a few months of engaging in the project, the participant proposed that she was going back to work - something she had stepped away from due to poor mental health nine years ago - and credited the project and its beneficial impact for making this decision. 

To quote the participant: “It has genuinely helped me with my confidence in getting involved with people again, and life too”.

Find out more about Northern Heartlands