Arts and wellbeing flourish in rural Durham

A creative initiative is helping hundreds in County Durham boost their wellbeing through traditional crafts, social activities and creative experiences.

The Wiggly Path CIC, founded by Colin and Sarah Wilson, operates from a cabin in Weardale and has had “such a positive impact upon hundreds of lives” since its launch in October 2023.

Combining their design expertise and passion for the arts, the Witton-le-Wear couple, who previously worked in the design department at Northumbria University, have created a social enterprise focused on improving mental health and fostering connections in rural communities.

Colin said: “At first, the idea was to have people pay to attend workshops, but then covid and the cost-of-living crisis hit, and gradually, different institutions began asking us to run classes to help people who were struggling with isolation.

“That is where it really took off. We didn’t realise just how big the mental health crisis actually was in rural areas such as County Durham.

“Now the majority of activities we do are classes to help people who feel isolated or simply want to boost their wellbeing. 

“We even host children’s classes where parents can participate alongside their kids while taking a break from the everyday routine.”

The organisation offers workshops in woodcraft, weaving, stitching and printing, alongside informal catchups that address everyday rural life. It has plans to expand with more activities in 2025, including team-building sessions for businesses.

Sarah added: “We really have been blown away by the response we’ve received so far from the local community, particularly given that so many people who come along have never even been to an arts class before or tried their hand at half of the things we practice.

“The feedback we’ve received has been incredible, not only from those who have attended our classes, but also from our partner organisations and the local community groups we work with, so going forward the plan is very much to continue building on that.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we will begin introducing a few new activities, some of which will be festive themed, and as we look to 2025, the aim is to expand into delivering team-building sessions for businesses and other such community groups.

“We will also be attending events, such as Blanchland’s Christmas Market later this month, which will help us to further raise awareness of how participation in such creative activities can help transform lives and hopefully inspire more people to get into arts and crafts.” 

The Wiggly Path CIC has been supported by funding and advice from the Social Boost Durham programme. Delivered by the North East BIC, the programme is one of the pilot initiatives being delivered across England, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to help stimulate social entrepreneurship in target areas.

Michelle Booth, social enterprise boost manager at the North East BIC, added: “We are proud to have played such a key role in The Wiggly Path’s journey so far.

“Their community-centred mission is exactly the kind of thing we love to support – programmes or organisations that can have a real, positive community or environmental impact while also becoming a viable business in their own right.

“Sarah and Colin’s work has already had such a positive impact upon hundreds of lives across the Weardale area and we look forward to seeing how they continue to grow from here on out.”

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