Looking back at 2020
Well, what a year it has been! This time last year we were looking ahead at 2020 with big ambitions for a second WellFest event, to be held at Moretonhampstead Sport Centre in early April. At WellFest 2019, we had around 40 different health and wellbeing organisations represented and over 350 visitors. Hard to imagine in these socially distanced times. We were planning for a bigger and better event in 2020, with pony rides, singing performances, free therapy treatments and sports taster sessions. So it was with a heavy heart that we decided to first delay and then cancel WellFest 2020.
Instead Wellmoor found itself fully occupied as part of the nationwide emergency Coronavirus response. At the start of the pandemic lockdown in March, Wellmoor, in collaboration with the Parish Council and Morecare, set up Care Line to help people in Moreton and the surrounding areas with shopping and prescription deliveries through the co-ordination of volunteers. We were overwhelmed by the incredibly outpouring of support from community members who signed up to volunteer, and heard many more stories of neighbourly support organically popping up throughout the community.
With strange good timing, Wellmoor was invited in late 2019 to join a novel and exciting project piloting the use of technology to bring together lonely or socially isolated people through their interest in the arts. Run in partnership with the rural touring charity Villages in Action, 'Jaw Jaw' launched in early-May with livestreamed weekly workshops led by acclaimed Devon-based performing arts professionals to small groups in and around North-East Dartmoor.
Taking part in the pilot gave Wellmoor extremely valuable and completely new experience taking part in digital wellness projects. Following the successful conclusion of the project (which saw some of the participants meet for the first time in real life for a beautiful and moving socially distanced dance performance in the Parish Hall), Wellmoor secured funding from the South West Academic Health Science Network to launch a series of virtual Strength and Balance classes in partnership with Moretonhampstead Health Centre. The project, which is known as MoveMoor, will run for 12 weeks to benefit both participants at home as well as residents at Coppelia House.
But it wasn't only online that Wellmoor was active. 2020 saw the 'blossoming' of Moretonhampstead's Community Allotment, which is governed and run by a group of dedicated and enthusiastic green-fingered volunteers. Starting with an overgrown patch of brambles at the far end of the allotment, the plot is now home to no-dig vegetables beds, a brand-new shed and decking area and the beginnings of a sapling nursery. Wellmoor also took responsibility for Moretonhampstead redundant phone box at the entrance to the allotment, and are currently curating an exciting programme including a pop-up exhibition, seed exchange and community larder - all initiatives from people in the community.
With the rollercoaster of 2020 coming to end, Wellmoor is naturally being cautious about making too many plans for the coming year. However, we do know that as a Co-op Locality Fund good cause of the year, the Community Allotment will be able to increase the range of communal volunteer work experience opportunities and include new and exciting elements such as workshops and lectures. We are also working on developing digital projects for even wider audiences and will continue collaborating with local organisations to meet the health and wellbeing needs of our community for whatever the new year brings.. And who knows, we may even be able to do WellFest 2021!