A COMMUNITY project in Wrexham faces closing down at the end of the month due to lack of funding, with fears over the impact the closure will have on residents who use it. 

Community Wellness was founded in 2021 by Wrexham GP Karen Sankey. Initially it was based in Shotton for 18 months, before securing Levelling Up funding from Wrexham Council and moving to the George Edwards Hall in Cefn Mawr in April of this year. 

The project, which offers an alternative approach to the medical model currently helps around 150 in total through it's weekly sessions. 

Through the team of ten including GPs, counsellors and occupational therapists, they provide a range of services including social activities, therapy and interventions as well as mental health support. 

It currently supports some of the most vulnerable people in the community, providing a space for those with mental health issues, drug and alcohol addictions, in addition to offering a space for anyone to attend to combat loneliness or bereavement. 

Community Wellness space in Cefn Mawr.Community Wellness space in Cefn Mawr. (Image: NQ) Community Wellness links in with other services such as Food Shack, Caritas Surgery, Llangollen Surgery, Phoenix Counselling and Little Learning Company to provide people who attend with all the help they need. 

However, despite all the work being done to support the community, the project's funding has run out, meaning that without any new source of money it will close its doors at the end of the month. 

Karen said: "We probably need about £150k a year to run. 

"At the minute, we’re supporting around 150 people with a range of different challenges, whether that be social needs, mental health, drug and alcohol dependency, people who are lonely. In addition, we’re supporting previous high users of GPs and A+E."

"Anyone who wants to come can come along, there’s no criteria, no age range. The youngest person we have here is a toddler who comes along with her mum, while we also have someone in their 90s who has dementia - there’s a whole range of people who use us.

"I think the biggest thing is the access we offer, you can walk in and see someone straight away, or if you just want to come in and sit to enjoy the company, that’s fine too. It’s all about what people want and the path they want to take, rather than it being a set method for every person.

"The fear is what will happen to these people when it has to close."

Forty-year-old John Copp is one of the project's success stories. Not so long ago, John, who was married, a father, working and living in his own home, lost everything to alcohol dependency and poor mental health. 

He was living in a hostel and was on various medications in a bid to combat his mental health and addiction, before being seen by the Community Wellness team. 

With their help, John has been clean for two years, now sees his children and owns his own home. 

He has just started a counselling course at Wrexham University and helps out at the project, with hopes to be a counsellor at the project in the future. 

Laura Davies, John Copp and founder, Karen Sankey.Laura Davies, John Copp and founder, Karen Sankey. (Image: NQ) John told the Leader just how much the project had helped him over the years. 

He said: “Community Wellness saved my life, it gave me a second chance.

“It pulled me out of a dark place with my mental health and it continues to pull other people out of dark places.

“It opens up opportunities, friendships and connections and in time I’ve seen people grow. It gives people purpose and structure.

“It gives people hope, people learn to open up, learn to talk and know that it will be okay.

“I’m trying to use my experience to help other people, and pass on anything I can. It would be a great shame to see it go and there are a lot of people worried about what will happen.

"People look forward to it, it’s part of their routine and it forms friendships and brings people together. It will have a huge impact if it closes."

Laura Davies, from Wrexham, has a career helping people as a probation officer until being deemed unfit for work on mental health grounds. 

After losing her dad and brother to suicide within five days of each other in 2016, the now 32-year-old spent years masking and distracting from the trauma. 
Laura was told about the work the project does, when visiting the GP and after attending one session two months ago, has been back every week since.

Laura said: "I lost my dad and brother within a week, eight years ago.

"With my job, I was taking on traumas without dealing with my own. I had nothing left in the tank for my family when I got home. I had alcohol under control during the work week but would binge on weekends and have often tried to reduce previously. 

“When being told I was not mentally well enough to be working, I saw myself as a failure and drank to excess everyday.

“With the help of CW I have now been sober for 2 months and now able to start heal the unaddressed traumas without masking them. I know now, I will be in a much better position to help people moving forward.”

 

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Nicola Hesp is another local resident that uses the project every week. After losing her husband three years ago, Nicola began to struggle with her mental health and stopped working. 

She started drinking and soon felt she had no way out, but after joining the project in Cefn Mawr, she admits she has found a "lifeline", but fears what may happen should the project stop at the end of the month.

Nicola said: “It’s like a family.

“It’s given me a lot more confidence, it gives you a meaning to get up in the morning, it gives you a purpose.

“I know that if I needed to talk to someone then there is someone here for me, who will listen and not judge me.

“I lost my husband three years ago, which led to me having a breakdown and I couldn’t work. I began drinking and really struggled with my mental health.

“But the impact this place has had has been huge, if it closes I really don’t know what I’ll do, because it gives you so much more than just coming down here every week.

“It’s going to cost a hell of a lot more if it does close, as people will be going back to their GPs, back to hospital and using other services.

“This place is a community, it’s open to everybody and it’s been my lifeline.”

For more information about Community Wellness, visit https://community-wellness.co.uk/contact-us/.