North Yorkshire Council

 

Corporate Director of Community Development

 

Library Service – Wintering Well

 

14 May 2026

 

Report of the Assistant Director of Culture, Leisure, Archives and Libraries

 

1.0       PURPOSE OF REPORT

 

1.1      To seek approval for the submission of an application for funding to the Arts Council England of   £14,700 from the Corporate Director Community Development, in consultation with the Chief         Finance Officer (sub-delegated to the Assistant Director - Resources).

 

 

2.0       SUMMARY

 

2.1       Funding is sought for a project to help support residents’ mental health over the winter                 period.

 

3.0       BACKGROUND        

 

3.1       Grant funding is available through Arts Council England’s project grants to support Libraries in their four Universal Offers. This project will support the Health and Wellbeing offer.

 

3.2       Programme Objectives

The project aims to give people the knowledge and tools to alleviate symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal depression is estimated to effect 2 million people in the UK. Among recommended treatments by the NHS is light therapy. The project will provide light therapy lamps and wellbeing information.

 

3.3       We will create 150 loanable kits based on the academically researched resources created by Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, who are partners in this project.  The kits will include a light therapy lamp, wellbeing information and practical tools to support wintering well.

 

3.4       We will set up 15 Wintering Well hubs in our libraries. These will include a large light therapy lamp, comfortable seating and wellbeing information and signposting. These will become community hubs at a time of year when it can be hard to get out, and hard to find free places to gather and socialise.

 

3.5       There will be four large events, one in each of the geographical areas of North Yorkshire. The events will bring together partners (both NYC and external) to provide information on wintering well. Topics covered will include mental wellbeing, energy bill reduction and the benefits of being active. There will also be a wellbeing element to each visit such as a wellbeing walk or a mindful creative activity. We will replicate elements of our Slipper Socials events.  NYC partners reported how valuable these events were as outreach in the community and engaging new audiences.  

 

 

 

3.6       Wintering Well supports Arts Council England’s Project Grants objectives whilst directly contributing to North Yorkshire Council priorities around health, wellbeing and community resilience. The project uses our library network as trusted, accessible community spaces to address the real impact of long, dark winters on mental health, isolation and low mood. By combining loanable light therapy kits, welcoming wellbeing hubs and locally delivered community activity, the project reinforces libraries’ role in line with the national Universal Libraries Offer for Health and Wellbeing. It targets groups we know face the greatest barriers in winter – including young adults, housebound residents and sanctuary seekers – and complements existing council and voluntary sector support. In doing so, Wintering Well demonstrates how cultural and library led activity can deliver preventative, place-based wellbeing outcomes for North Yorkshire residents.

 

4.0       DETAILED PRESENTATION OF THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE

 

4.1       For many people, winter is a season to endure rather than enjoy, carrying with it an increased risk of loneliness, and seasonal depression. Through this project, we want to help people ‘winter well’ by giving them the tools to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and to feel more connected and supported. The core of the project is bringing light through therapy lamps, but it ripples far beyond that, aiming to build connection, community and access to cultural opportunities.

 

4.2       We will work in partnership with Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities (GEU) to build upon their research into the causes, and treatment of SAD. The research shows the benefits of light therapy through SAD lamps, mindful practices in winter light, and community connection.

 

4.3       The first element in our project is 150 loanable winter wellbeing kits centred on SAD lamps. This will make this simple and impactful intervention available to those who may previously have missed out due to cost or lack of awareness. The kits will also provide creative wellbeing through a reading list and suggested mindful practices, in addition to signposting local wellbeing resources and mental health support.

 

4.4       The second part of the project is developing 17 wintering well hubs across our libraries. Hubs will feature larger SAD lamps and comfortable seating, where people can socialise or relax with a book in a warm welcome space. There will be information boards with events, information about the project and signposting to local support. These hubs will provide an invaluable third space for those feeling isolated in winter; warm, welcoming and free.

 

4.5       The third element is delivery of community events, one in each of the four geographical areas of North Yorkshire. Each will have a wellbeing activity such as a mindful winter walk, or a creative workshop, drawing people out to spend time together in winter. there will also be an information roadshow showcasing organisations who support active lifestyles, mental health and creative culture, and a traveling exhibition curated by Glasgow University.

 

4.6       We have identified three priority communities for this project. The first is young adults. Research indicates that those between 16 and 30 are most likely to be diagnosed with SAD, due to a combination of societal and biological factors. We hope targeted outreach to this group, in which individuals are likely to be on lower incomes, will make SAD lamps accessible. We hope the project will reposition libraires as places to seek support and community for an age group which is often under-served by libraries.

 

 

 

 

 

4.7       The second community identified is our Home Library Service. These are individuals who are housebound through mobility or caring responsibilities. As a result of these factors, they may struggle to get out in the winter light and may have compounding factors such as social isolation. As a predominately older demographic there is also likely to be less awareness of SAD and its treatments. A SAD lamp might give the boost required to engage in self-care such as arranging to see a friend or engaging in creative pursuits.

 

4.8       The third group is the Sanctuary Seeker community. As Libraries of Sanctuary, we work closely with sanctuary seekers and partner organisations. We’re aware of the impact of low levels of sunlight in the UK on communities from sunnier climates and the compounding factors of displacement and insecurity. Factors such as lack of awareness, overwhelm, and financial insecurity may put the benefits of SAD lamps out of reach.

 

4.9       We hope this project will give our communities the support to Winter Well and to make libraries their own over an often-challenging time of the year.

 

5.0       CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

 

5.1       Health and wellbeing: People are supported to have a good quality of life and enjoy active and healthy lifestyles.

 

6.0       ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

 

6.1       We haven’t considered an alternative. In the absence of funding, we would be unable to deliver this project.

 

7.0       IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS

 

7.1       None

 

8.0       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

8.1       The grant application is for £14,700 revenue funding to support the provision of light therapy lamps and wellbeing information. The only match funding required is £1,300 to be met through existing staff time. There are no ongoing financial implications. The project costs will be covered by the grant, and any legacy activity will be dependent on securing additional external funding as otherwise the project will cease. 

 

Costs funded by the grant are outlined below:  

 

Product cost

Volume

Total

Lumie lamp - loaning

£59.99

150

£8,998.50

Halo Lamp - hub

£219.00

15

£3,285.00

Sky Frame

£8.99

16

£143.84

Boards for information in hubs

£161.99

4

£647.96

Events budget

£300.00

4

£1,200.00

Tote Bags

£2.17

170

£368.90

14,644.20

 

            The staffing requirement will be met from within existing staff resource at no additional cost.

 

 

 

9.0       LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

9.1       In the event that the grant application is successful any expenditure of the grant funding will be in accordance with the Council’s Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules.

 

10.0     EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

 

10.1     People who take part in this project will be supported to access services in the library, and information from other partner organisations. We are hoping this will support people to participate in wider community activities.  See Appendix A.

 

11.0     CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

 

11.1     Information our partners provide will include information on how to manage energy costs.  See Appendix B.

 

12.0     PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

 

12.1     The project will support three of our KPIs:

 

            Number of visits – we anticipate the project will increase the number of visits as new audiences come to borrow winter wellbeing kits, access resources and attend roadshows.

            Active Users – as we anticipate reaching currently under-served groups, this will increase our active users.

            Attendees – we hope the four events will be well attended giving us a boost to our attendee figures at a time of year when there are fewer significant events.

 

13.0     CONCLUSIONS

 

13.1     There is an opportunity to apply to Arts Council England and benefit from funding ring-fenced to Library Universal Offers projects. The Wintering Well project will give us a chance to reach out to new audiences and provide preventative support to our communities. As the project benefits from extensive research from Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities and has been piloted in various Scottish library services, it is a low-risk way of benefitting our communities.

 

14.0     REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

14.1     If successful, the application for funding will enable us to further position our libraries as trusted community spaces and deliver low cost, preventative winter wellbeing support for communities most at risk of isolation and Seasonal Affective Disorder.

 

15.0

RECOMMENDATION

 

 

i)          That the Corporate Director Community Development, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer (sub-delegated to the Assistant Director-Resources approve the submission of the grant application for £14,700 to the Arts Council England and note that match funding in the form of staff time is required from the Council.

 

 

APPENDICES:

Appendix A – Equality Impact Assessment

Appendix B – Climate Impact Assessment

 

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.