Breathing Space

Who we are

Constitutional Objectives:

1. To relieve the needs of people with health problems (including issues around mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing, as recognised by the World Health Organisation) in Witton Gilbert, surrounding villages and the wider North East region, by providing access to space, services, support and activities in and around the Church and land of St. Michael and All Angels, Witton Gilbert and other land and spaces within the Community.

2. To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for the recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.

Vision:

Breathing Space aims to offer opportunities for personal development in body, mind and spirit, through a holistic and enabling approach, working cooperatively with partner organisations to ensure that participants might achieve significant and long-term benefits to their health and wellbeing. To provide creative solutions to reinforce positive Health and wellbeing outcomes through activities which recognise the 5 ways to Health and wellbeing priorities:

• Connecting with others
• Being active
• Taking notice
• Keeping up Learning
• Giving to others

Breathing Space is located within St Michael & All Angels Church and operates both in the church and within the local community facilitating, developing and delivering a range of projects. St Michael’s Church which is a medieval 12th century building has undergone a number of renovations and improvements which have made it an ideal location for community activity. The fact that it is situated alongside a nature reserve further enhances the ambience of the facility and enables creative approaches to health and wellbeing.

There is also a vibrant group of individuals who are involved in its management and who also have connections within local management groups including the Parish council and Friends of Witton Dene.

The Project aims to be open and inclusive to all members of the community, but will also target those individuals who are often hardest to reach through social isolation, health inequalities, mental or physical dis-ease. We aim to explore activities across gender and age ranges.