Light Peer Support receive funding from Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s ‘Legacy Fund’

Light is thrilled to have received a £1,000 grant from Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s ‘Legacy Fund’ through the South Yorkshire Community Foundation for our brand-new wellbeing walks project.   

Light Peer Support (Light) provides a range of support services to improve the mental health of new parents and parents to be who are struggling during the perinatal period (the time between conception and the child’s second birthday). Services include peer support groups, one-to-one sessions, counselling and online support.   

What is Light’s wellbeing walks project?

Walk with Light, is Light’s new wellbeing walks project which has been developed by one of Light’s Peer Support Workers, Tina, after she took part in a similar project. The walks will be held around green spaces around Sheffield, for groups of Mums and/or Dads with their babies.

The aim is to get parents out of the house, as some new parents struggle to do this. Additionally, we aim to improve their confidence, and support them to open up to both support workers and other parents.  

How can Wellbing Walks help mental health?

Tina said: “Wellbeing walks have been invaluable, and even though my little boy is now seven, they have given me the confidence to do something I have never been able to; take my son out to new places on public transport and share in new experiences and make memories with him!

“Something so simple, but my own anxiety and lack of confidence have meant I’ve never been able to do it, until now! I want to give Mums the opportunity to be able to do this sooner, so that they, and their babies can be happier, healthier, both mentally and physically, and thrive.” 

Walk with Light is due to start in March 2024, and we’re aiming to raise a further £2,000 in order to support as many families as possible.

Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park ‘Legacy Fund’

The Legacy Fund provides grants to grassroot community organisations who provide activities addressing physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

Claire Fretwell, Operations Manager at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, said: “We’re delighted our Legacy Fund has contributed towards Light Peer Support developing its wellbeing walks.

“Activities like these, that promote physical and mental health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation, are exactly the type of initiatives we hoped the fund would support.

“We’d like to wish Light the best of luck with the project, and we look forward to hearing how it goes in the Spring.” 

Tina added “I’m so happy to have secured an initial £1,000 towards the cost of the Walk with Light and cannot wait to be able to offer much needed peer support to parents, alongside some fresh air and exercise to help them on their journey to better mental wellbeing.

“Thank you so much to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park for your contribution towards this.”

How to book onto a wellbeing walk

Walk with Light will start in March 2024. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to find out when they launch and how you can sign up or contact us to find out more.