Upstream and the Culm Valley Integrated Centre for Health

Upstream is a healthy living project that encourages stimulating creative activities for people’s well-being and life long independence.

Upstream helps reduce dependency on health and social care services by relieving depression, prolonging active life and encouraging people to improve their own health and well-being. This builds self confidence and invigorates communities.

The centre has encouraged an increased contact with Drs, surgery staff, health professionals and the patient support group. This in turn has led to an increase in referrals many of whom have joined an existing Upstream group or come on our summer event. Culm Valley plans to make space available for further Upstream activities.

Each year we have a winter project to encourage participants to fill the long winter evenings with creative activity. Past projects have included felt and weaving hangings and our cloak of many colours. We will use this year’s project to launch a group based on the health centre.

We are also working alongside Natural England to encourage physical activity by giving out pedometers and signposting participants to walk groups. I have trained with them as a walk leader enabling me to assess walks for those in rural and isolated situations.

At present we run an activity group on alternate Tuesday mornings in the Catholic Church Hall, Cullompton. Please contact our office on 01363 778029 for details or to find out more about Upstream.

Gilly Haysom
Upstream/Culm Valley Integrated Centre for Health link mentor

www.Upstream-uk.com