Well London

In each of these communities, the project aims to:

•  improve healthy eating choices
• increase physical activity
• promote mental health and wellbeing
• support access to open spaces

A key feature of the project is the involvement of local people in the design and delivery of fun activities that meet their wellbeing needs.

Well London has been developed by the Well London Alliance who are seven specialist providers, namely; the London Health Commission, Central YMCA, Arts Council London, Groundwork, London Sustainability Exchange, the South London & Maudsley NHS Trust and University of East London (UEL).

The programme has been made possible thanks to a Big Lottery award of £9.46m, granted to the Well London Alliance in July 2007.

Central YMCA & Well London
Mark Harrod, Central YMCA’s Director of Policy & Public Affairs, explains:

For Well London, Central YMCA is leading on improving levels of physical activity. We will be doing this principally through our Activate London project, training and supporting local people to act as 'peer activators'.

This involves behaviour change and activity leadership training that enables members of the community themselves to develop a broad range of physical activities using local community facilities.

We are also leading on the engagement of young people to ensure they identify and develop activities that meet their specific interests and requirements.

For more information about Well London, click here

The Well London Alliance is coordinated by the London Health Commission and is made up of the following partners: Central YMCA as the lead for activity and health, Groundwork London for physical activity and environment, London Sustainability Exchange on healthy eating, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust for mental wellbeing, and Arts Council, London, to lead on culture and tradition. University of East London will lead on the research and evaluation framework.