BENTHAM'S Looking Well Centre is to receive a £25,000 award in recognition of the impact it makes on the community.

Only 10 organisations across the country have been granted a SmithKline Beecham (SB) Community Health Impact Award, which are designed to recognise and promote the work of small voluntary organisations in the field of community health care.

The awards scheme is in its third year and is run in partnership with the King's Fund, an independent health charity. It rewards small to medium sized registered charities with a proven track record in health.

Under its parent group Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Ltd, the Looking Well Centre, which uses the creative arts to promote community health, was shortlisted from 200 other organisations for an award.

The centre is based in an old shop on Bentham's King Street and approximately 150 people visit each week for various activities. All the activities are art based, and the centre aims to create a congenial space where people of all ages and abilities can give and receive support in an isolated market town.

It is not dominated by the health sector, although health visitors have developed an active role with the centre to serve the local community, as have local schools, community groups and health service user groups addressing health and social care needs.

Overall, the centre aims to provide a unique and different approach to healthcare and move beyond traditional models of health promotion.

The project which culminated in the development of the Looking Well began more than six years ago and was initiated by local artist Alison Jones, whose work focuses on the links between the arts and health.

A group of representatives from North Yorkshire Health Authority and Health Promotion, Airedale NHS Trust, Social Services and local voluntary groups initially undertook a local health and social care needs assessment, which involved local schoolchildren and the elderly.

The evaluation highlighted the main issues for Bentham as loneliness in the elderly, depression, apathy in young people, poverty in young families and a high incidence of mental health problems in all ages. The lack of transport and social isolation compounded all these issues.

Through this health needs assessment process it was possible to identify a need to address the problems and then apply for funding.

The subsequent outcome has been the development of projects where a small number of vulnerable people can have specific needs addressed in their own local area in ways that are meaningful and accessible to them.

Working on a shoestring budget, which only secured the building's lease, the Looking Well Centre was opened nearly three years ago and since then has grown from strength to strength with the help of money from funding applications.

People have come together to support each other and make links with local statutory and voluntary agencies. These include the Alzheimer's Carers Support Group, the WISH women's group, Mucky Buckets parent and children's group, Black Library, a young people's club, the Cancer Support Group, Second Childhood Group for older people, Relaxation Group and Tai Chi.

Exhibitions are always on display, such as panels from the national AIDS quilt, and people often drop in for a chat, to sit around the fire and just to meet other people.

Alison told the Herald: "Of course we are delighted to receive the award and it will make a big difference for the future of the Looking Well.

"We need to set up an administrative base and this award will help us to do that and enable us to invite professionals to the centre."

James Hill, director and senior vice president of corporate affairs for SB, said: "We are delighted to support and acknowledge the outstanding work undertaken by these community-based UK healthcare charities.

"They demonstrate how small charities through innovation and partnership can make a meaningful and measurable difference to those in need within their community. SB applauds their dedication, focus and commitment to helping others."

Susan Elizabeth, grants director at the King's Fund, added: "The third year of the SB Impact Awards has been the strongest so far. The panel of judges looked at in-depth assessments of the 20 voluntary organisations that had been shortlisted for the awards. Once again the achievements of these organisations, on issues as diverse as neighbourhood health, disability, women's psychiatric health, drug and sexual awareness, was impressive. Each of the winners demonstrated a clear impact on the health of their target community."

The Looking Well Centre will receive its award at a special ceremony to be held on February 16.

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