ORGANISERS were "absolutely overwhelmed" by the number of people who attended a recent wellbeing event in Boscombe.

Bournemouth-based housing and social care provider, BCHA, celebrated another successful Festival of Wellbeing.

Hundreds of people, including local MP Tobias Ellwood and Cllr Chris Wakefield, attended the annual event in Boscombe Gardens run by BCHA’s Ignite Project.

The scheme supports people back in to work and helps individuals to live life to the full.

A number of local wellbeing partner organisations, who BCHA works collaboratively with, were represented at the event.

This included Vita Nova, Skills & Learning, Crumbs, Dorset Scrapstore, Dorset Mind, Faithworks, Boscombe Children’s Centre, Livewell Dorset, MyTime, Healthwatch Dorset, Impact, Working Links and BCHA’s own New Leaf Allotment.

Jamie Clarke, Ignite lead development coach at BCHA, said: "We were absolutely overwhelmed with the turnout and support we received from everyone involved.

"The festival is a fantastic opportunity to find out more of what local support and wellbeing services are available in and around the Bournemouth and Boscombe area, as well as to enjoy some family fun and activities."

The festival also offered a wide-range of entertaining and educational activities, as well as live music from Vita Nova and local band Hightown Crows.

Dr Andrew Mayers, principal academic at Bournemouth University and patron for Dorset Mind said, “I was honoured to work with BCHA on this great event.

"I am pleased that so many groups were able to join us, including my colleagues at Dorset Mind.

"It was a great and fun opportunity to raise awareness about health, mental health and wellbeing.

"Given that we were in one of Bournemouth’s most popular venues, we were able to reach out to local residents and visitors to show what we can do in partnerships locally.”