Northamptonshire Community Foundation Community Hero of the Week

Veterans Community Network supports former service personnel across Northamptonshire, providing peer mentoring and social prescribing activities to improve mental health and wellbeing. Their work is built around the NHS’s Five Ways to Wellbeing, helping veterans stay active, connect with others and build resilience after service.

With the support of recent funding, the organisation delivered a therapeutic gardening project. The project provided a safe and informal space where veterans could come together to learn new skills, build connections and improve their wellbeing through nature-based activities.

A £3,204.60 grant from The Northampton Queen’s Institute Community First Endowment Fund, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, supported the delivery of the project, including staffing to coordinate sessions. Activities focused on gardening as a tool for personal growth, encouraging participants to stay active, practice mindfulness and support one another in a calm and supportive environment.

The project supported 15 veterans, with regular participants reporting improved wellbeing, increased confidence and reduced feelings of anxiety. Outcomes showed that the longer individuals engaged with the project, the greater the benefit to their mental health, highlighting the importance of consistent, community-based support.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £24 million in grants since its inception in 2001. This year marks an exciting milestone for NCF – 25 years of inspiring local giving for local needs. Building on this, NCF is also looking 25 years ahead, with bold ambition for a fairer, thriving and more connected county for generations to come. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.