From creating spaces for people to share lived experiences, to opening up access to culture and supporting people through recovery, organisations across the North West continue to demonstrate the important role social value plays in building stronger, more inclusive communities.

The work of AWARE NI, the Millennium Forum and ARC Fitness highlights how these organisations are creating opportunities for participation, improving wellbeing and strengthening connections across the community.

AWARE NI is marking its 30th anniversary this year with Look at Me Now, an exhibition bringing together 30 human-led stories, one for each year of the organisation’s history. The exhibition features honest, first-hand reflections from people who have experienced mental health challenges and what has helped them find hope.

Taking place at the Millennium Forum from 10 September to 10 October, the free exhibition highlights the importance of lived experience and accessible mental health support, while providing an opportunity for visitors to engage with the stories of others.

The exhibition is taking place in a venue which has itself played a significant role in widening access to culture across the region.

The Millennium Forum is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, marking a quarter of a century at the heart of the city’s cultural and community life. Since opening in 2001, the Forum has welcomed more than seven million people and now attracts in excess of 320,000 visitors annually.

Its contribution extends beyond performances, with an award-winning Education & Outreach programme providing young people with training and experience through initiatives including its annual youth musical and Interact Festival. The Forum has also been recognised for its work on accessibility, becoming the first theatre in Ireland to stage a Relaxed Performance of its pantomime in 2013, followed by a dementia-friendly performance in 2015.

The organisation’s 25th anniversary provides an opportunity to recognise the cultural and economic contribution of a major regional venue which continues to provide accessible opportunities for communities across the North West.

That focus on people and community is also reflected in the recent recognition of ARC Fitness founder and CEO Gary Rutherford, who has been named the Northern Ireland regional winner of this year’s Daily Mirror UTV Pride of Britain Awards.

A registered mental health nurse and qualified personal trainer, Gary founded ARC Fitness in 2019 with a focus on demonstrating that addiction recovery can be active, hopeful and community-led. ARC has since developed structured recovery pathways, family support, education partnerships and civic initiatives.

This regional recognition places Gary among a national line-up of individuals being recognised for their contribution to their communities and is now set to represent Northern Ireland at the national Pride of Britain Awards ceremony in London later this year, providing a significant platform for the excellent work being delivered by ARC Fitness across the North West.

Together, these organisations demonstrate the breadth of social value being generated across the North West, from mental health support to accessible culture and community-led recovery.

As the North West continues to build its economic ambition, the contribution of organisations creating opportunities and improving lives will remain an important part of developing a successful and inclusive regional economy.