Northamptonshire Community Foundation Community Hero of the Week
Lumina Arts Alliance CIC deliver creative wellbeing workshops across Northamptonshire, supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve mental health, reduce social isolation and develop new skills. Their work creates inclusive spaces where creativity is used to build confidence, connection and resilience.
The project offers regular group sessions in photography, painting and creative design, open to young people, adults with mental health challenges and those at risk of isolation. Sessions are led by professional facilitators and supported by trained volunteers, ensuring both quality and accessibility.
A £5,000 grant from The Northamptonshire Queen’s Institute Relief Fund, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, is supporting the purchase of essential equipment and resources. This includes art materials such as paints, canvases and sketchbooks, alongside photography equipment and basic music production resources. Funding is also covering volunteer travel and subsistence costs, enabling local people to play an active role in delivering the sessions.
Each workshop combines creative skills with wellbeing activities, helping participants to build confidence, reduce isolation and explore pathways into further training, volunteering or employment, while volunteers gain valuable experience supporting healthier and more connected communities.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £24 million in grants since its inception in 2001. Since the start of the 2024/25 financial year, The Foundation has awarded more than £1.3 million in grants. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.