Reflections & New Connections – Orb’s Ways to Wellbeing Group

A couple of weeks ago, our impact team had the opportunity to sit in on a session with Orb Community Arts (one of our brilliant R2T and Multiply partners) and to speak with some of their service users about a course they’d taken part in with the arts-based charity.

Meeting Gemma and Barbara amidst the hustle and bustle of HS4L’s Chocolate Factory Café, we headed upstairs to a quieter space to hear the group’s mindful reflections in-between coffee and cake.

Over a series of 10 weeks, Orb have supported several participants through the creation of a new group based on the five ways to wellbeing. An ‘experimental group’ initially – (Keyworker Gemma’s words) – this group was created in a bid to accommodate a new influx of people joining Orb’s community in need of support:

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‘’We had quite an influx of new people to Orb (…) so we said, actually, why don’t we start a new group? Let’s base it around the five ways to wellbeing, because that encompasses everything Orb is about (…) We came up with some random ideas and we put it out to this lovely group of people. We didn’t know if people would even turn up after week one, but you guys all did and kept coming back, which was great’’.

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Meeting every Thursday for 10 weeks, the group have covered a lot of ground. They’ve explored mindful walks, yoga, communal cooking (using Orb’s own garden produce), goal based mood boards,  applique, meditation, and even sound recording – capturing sound bites all over Knaresborough, from the clamour of church bells to the splash of oars on the Nidd:

For the group, some of the sessions have opened up new territory, and terrain. They’ve discovered new nooks around Knaresborough and the surrounding area, have felt a ‘weight lifted’ following yoga, and have built a palpable rapport with one another – so much so that they’ve even made a WhatsApp group, a testament to the budding friendships.

For one participant, alongside the ‘people’, it’s the variety that’s been key to the group’s success:

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‘’Now that we’ve been through the 10 weeks, the first thing that struck me is variety- that’s what’s been appealing to me. The thing that I’ve loved is the variety and breadth of things that you’ve organised for us. All stuff that’s new and fresh’’

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Novelty aside, taking part in the group has empirically improved participant mental health. Based on The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scales (or WEMWBS) each participant has seen their overall wellbeing score improve by a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 14 points. Whether a result of Orb’s mindful practices, ethos of a ‘creative community for all’, or the new friendships being forged, either way it’s a positive outcome, especially given their week one hesitations.

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‘’What’s been different for me, for one, it’s an organisation that treats you as an individual and you’re valued for that whether you’re mouthy, scatty, whatever. Inclusive in other words, you felt part of the group, but also respected and valued for who you are.’’

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Coming together for their final session at HS4Ls café, it’s a way of ‘giving back’ (another of the five ways to wellbeing). The group are supporting a small charity run café, whilst simultaneously engaging in a reflective discussion about the last 10 weeks.

It’s a great opportunity for co-creation. The group talk through their takeaways and are given chance to shape the activities and format of the next Ways to Wellbeing group – from practicalities to suggestions of more outdoors based activities.

In all, the group has been a huge success, one that’s given rise to new connections and new approaches to wellbeing. Looking to the future, Orb will be offering similar wellbeing-focused support as a partner on Rise2Thrive, with many of the group’s participants planning on receiving support through the new partnership programme.

A huge thank you to Barbara, Gemma and their wonderful Wellbeing Group for allowing us a glimpse into Orb’s creative community! To find out more  and stay up to date with Orb, simply follow their Facebook or Instagram pages. 

Inspired by the groups activities? How could you approach your daily wellbeing a little differently?