Date published: 2025-10-14 | Category: Adult Social Care and Health, Bath, Delivering for local residents, Health and Care, Improving people's lives, Mental Health, Wellbeing support
New health and wellbeing courses offering residents the chance to meet people and develop new skills and interests have been launched in Bath & North East Somerset.
The Wellbeing Courses programme focuses on health inequalities through a variety of courses run by community providers using local tutors. It is co-ordinated by 3SG (Bath and North East Somerset Third Sector Group) working with B&NES Community Wellbeing Hub and funded by the B&NES Council Better Care Fund.
At the launch, Maria, a wellbeing course leader, shared how she started her cancer support group after going through her own treatment, commenting on the previous lack of emotional support available to cancer patients. Maria was joined by course attendee, Graham, who highlighted how having a space to receive support and share feelings with others had a positive impact on his wellbeing and encouraged anyone going through a similar experience to sign up to the course.
Councillor Alison Born, B&NES Council cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “I was delighted to be able to celebrate the launch of the new wellbeing courses and it was very moving to hear about personal experiences like those of Maria and Graham.
“There are a fantastic range of courses, such as yoga, art, crafts, cooking and gardening, which will enable people to develop new skills, meet new people, find new interests or simply get out of the house – all of which can help improve overall wellbeing. I am positive that these courses are going to help improve the lives of many people and I encourage everyone to check what support is available to them.”
Becky Somerset, Director of 3SG, said: "We are thrilled to be supporting this service and are committed to bringing a varied and useful programme of activities across Bath and North East Somerset using local tutors and organisations. We will be regularly reviewing courses and local need to bring maximum benefit to people using these services. This has been a truly collaborative project, enabled by the Better Care Fund and B&NES Council, working alongside partners at the Community Wellbeing Hub and the wider network of organisations delivering services. We are excited for its future and the impact it will undoubtedly create."
The wellbeing courses can be found on the new website: https://www.wellbeing-courses.co.uk/
Most of the courses are free. Any course charges will be reinvested back into other activities.
Pictured left to right at the launch are Deputy Mayor of Bath, Councillor Ian Halsall, B&NES Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillor Alison Born, B&NES Council Chair, Councillor Liz Hardman, Director of 3SG, Becky Somerset and 3SG Co-ordinator, Paula Turner.