Preston Wellbeing Festival Great Success

Preston recently held its first 10-day mental health and wellbeing festival, Chrysalis Expo Wellbeing Festival. Counsillor Keith Sedgewick, the Mayor of Preston, officially opened the festival at the launch ceremony on May 19 at Ashton Community Science College in Ribbleton.

The aim of the event was to showcase the art created by the Chrysalis Project, other arts and health schemes as well as to promote good mental health and wellbeing. The event included a series of events which took place across Preston with film screenings, theatre shows and art exhibitions across various locations.

Gulab Singh, NHS Central Lancashire assistant director healthy communities, said: “It was pleasing to see that the launch had attracted members of the public as well as representatives from agencies who have been involved in the Chrysalis project over the last 18 months.

“The Chrysalis Project has successfully managed to engage people across all age spectrums and we are particularly pleased with having people involved at school age right up to the oldest being 99!”

The Chrysalis Project has been developed through the target wellbeing programme, funded through the Big Lottery Fund and commissioned by NHS Central Lancashire. The Project has been developed to ensure people involved in the project can improve their positive wellbeing by getting involved in the magical world of creative arts through workshops and activities running in and around Preston. The aim of these activities is to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing through new, exciting and positive activities.