Residents across North Yorkshire are now able to borrow light therapy kits from their local library this winter as part of a pioneering initiative designed to help people manage the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
From today (Monday, 26 October), 150 Wintering Well kits are available to loan after funding was secured from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme.
They are designed to support people during the winter months when reduced daylight can affect mood and energy levels.
The kits were developed with Economic and Social Research Council funding by researchers from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, in consultation with people who experience symptoms of SAD.
Following two years of a successful trial in Scotland, North Yorkshire libraries are the first in England to offer access to the kits this year as part of a wider roll-out across the UK’s four nations.
A total of 16 library services across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales will offer the chance to borrow hundreds of Wintering Well Boxes over the winter months.
Each kit contains a therapeutic light lamp and a guidebook with tips on simple indoor and outdoor activities that can help support a new healthy winter routine, as well as signposting to a free online course.
Executive member for culture and arts, Cllr Simon Myers, whose responsibilities include libraries, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as pioneers for England of the Wintering Well kits, which we are sure will be well-used as the darker months approach.
“Such initiatives that boost the health and well-being of our residents are integral, and they complement the resources already available at our libraries.
“I would like to thank library staff and volunteers for getting the service up and running. It proves that our library branches are so much more than places to borrow books. They are at the heart of our communities and a hub of support when people need it.”
Library user Jenny Barrie was chosen to try a Wintering Well kit ahead of their official launch from her local branch in Harrogate.
She said: “The winter is always quite a depressing time of year with the darkness, cold, and often wet weather. I certainly feel worse during the winter months, with much less energy.
“The lamp is very simple and easy to use. Although I have only had it for a short time, I think it is making a difference, and I hope to see further improvement the longer I use it.
“The other information provided has also given me some good ideas on how to look at the winter months differently. I’m so pleased to have been given this opportunity.”
According to figures from the Royal College of Psychiatry, more than a million people in the UK are estimated to live with SAD during the winter months as a result of reduced access to natural light.
See more information on the Wintering Well project.
See more information about how to keep well and warm during winter.
This includes guidance for preparing for cold weather, travelling safely, staying warm and safe, getting vaccinated, choosing the right healthcare, looking after your mental health and supporting other people around you.