This Healthy Heart Grant project has now finished, read on for the project highlights.

The Problem

In the area of North Cornelly, Bridgend they have high levels economically inactive residents who live in poverty and deprivation. This area has one of the highest rates of death from cardiovascular disease in the UK and the cost-of-living crisis exacerbated the residents unhealthy eating habits, increased smoking and alcohol consumption and raised general stress levels. There was a clear need in the community for activities such as cooking and healthy eating workshops, smoking cessation sessions and stress reduction classes.

The Project

Cornelly & District Development Trust’s project Pulse ran from July 2023 to March 2024 and provided a space in the community to socialise whilst learning about healthy lifestyle habits. They created an allotment space where they grew fruit and vegetables and then took them into the kitchen and cooked heart healthy meals. Beneficiaries also attended workshop sessions where they learnt about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity and the benefits of reducing their alcohol consumption and stopping smoking. Participants also had their blood pressure and weight taken and their BMI and NHS heart age calculated pre and post project.

Project Highlights

Pulse managed to successfully engage more beneficiaries than originally anticipated and saw high engagement levels from all of these throughout the project. They had 3 cohorts who took part in cooking sessions and educational workshops, and they saw participants overcome their fears of certain foods such as vegetables and try new dishes. This project saw reductions in blood pressure, BMI and heart age across all cohorts and 3 participants stopped smoking all together. It was also apparent that this project had great success in reducing stress levels and found that being outside growing fruit and vegetables improved beneficiaries’ mental health greatly. Due to the success of the project, some beneficiaries are still attending the growing space each week to continue with their hard work and to keep their heart healthy.