Three Lincoln charities (Abbey Access Training, developmentplus and Green Synergy) are celebrating a successful funding application which will extend the much valued Better Together Project for a further three years. We are delighted to receive £339,097 in National Lottery funding to continue work with people with mental ill health or disruption. The partnership will use the money to work closely with the community, services, and those who will be supported to co-design and deliver a range of opportunities and support for the people of Lincoln.

Better Together was initially funded for a 3 year period to offer mentoring, skills development, bespoke training opportunities and community and therapeutic horticulture. Partners worked to adjust delivery throughout lock down periods and the Covid 19 pandemic. The partners deliver complementary activities and mentoring support and consulted closely on a Stage 2 Project ensuring participant need and experience will be at the heart of delivery going into the future.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest funder of community activity in the UK, will see delivery evolving to meet the needs of local adults with mental health needs.

The funding will allow people to continue to build their skills, relationships, and sense of connection through a holistic and integrative approach

The funding will also enable us to support people who want to learn new skills and develop their own community group and provision.

One participant described their experience of Better Together as; ‘Barriers seem to diminish when amongst the Better Together People. Everyone is approachable and welcoming’ It has improved both my physical and mental health, the project has made me feel much better about myself and allowed me to make friends, something I previously had difficulty with’.