The Abundance Project

Black, minority ethnic, and refugee communities in economically disadvantaged areas of Southwest London are at most risk of poor mental health. They are also the least likely to use cultural and green community spaces that can improve mental health and wellbeing.

The Abundance Project is a collaboration between the arts and health sectors, working alongside community organisations to create opportunities for everyone, no matter their background, to feel included and supported with their mental health. The project sets out to address the unequitable differences in mental health care for different ethnic groups. It supports an abundance mindset, recognising the many skills, abilities and resources that already exist in these marginalised communities.

The multidisciplinary research team is using a community-led approach. They are working with 5 Community Research Hubs and ‘lived experience experts’ from these communities to make sure that the project reflects participants' real-life experience.

The project is part of the UKRI’s Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities programme, which aims to tackle deep-rooted and longstanding health differences in Britain's poorest communities. This includes exploring how the UK’s community assets, such as museums and parks, can be integrated into healthcare systems with the aim of reducing health inequalities.