Where It All Began...

The Under the Bridge Project was born from a shared vision between charity Bluetonic and Nottingham C.A.N.

In late 2020, project founders Scott Clayton and Trekkah Benjamin met while developing separate community initiatives focused on improving wellbeing and supporting local people. Recognising their shared passion for mental health, creativity and Nottinghamshire’s waterways, they began exploring how the strengths of both organisations could come together to create something new.

That vision became a reality in spring 2022, when the first 15-week Under the Bridge pilot programme launched with support from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Designed to support men aged 18–65 across the Erewash area, the programme brought together water-based activities, creative workshops, mindfulness, walking and choir rehearsals. At its heart was a simple idea: that better mental health can grow from connection — with other people, with nature and with our local blue spaces.

More than 30 men took part across 15 sessions, building friendships, developing confidence and discovering the positive impact that shared experiences and time spent outdoors could have on their wellbeing.

The pilot culminated in a memorable choir performance beneath Sawley Bridge on the River Trent. Participants arrived in style aboard a Higgins boat, a historic landing craft used during the D-Day landings, before performing to an audience beneath the bridge. The event was filmed by BBC and Notts TV and provided a fitting celebration of everything the pilot had achieved.

What began as a 15-week pilot had laid the foundations for something much bigger — a community built around connection, creativity, nature and the belief that no one should have to face difficult times alone.

A Project Gathers Momentum...

Following the success of the original pilot, Under the Bridge entered an exciting new chapter in 2024, securing National Lottery funding through ITV’s The People’s Projects.

Competing against community projects from across the East and West Midlands, Under the Bridge received the highest share of the public vote, securing the funding needed to take the project to the next level. The result was a powerful endorsement of the programme and the difference it was already making in the lives of local men.

The funding enabled Under the Bridge to expand beyond its original pilot, welcoming more participants, introducing new activities and strengthening partnerships across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Building on the learning from the first phase, the project continued to put blue spaces, wellbeing, creativity and social connection at the heart of its work.

One of the highlights of this period was the Under the Bridge Walking Music Festival, bringing hundreds of people together to celebrate local music, community and Nottingham’s waterways. Participants followed a guided walk beneath some of the city’s most iconic bridges, encountering live performances from talented local artists along the route.

Alongside the festival, regular choir sessions, paddleboarding, swimming, walking and creative workshops continued to provide opportunities for men to try new things, build confidence and develop meaningful friendships.

The growing success of the project also attracted the attention of ITV Central, helping to shine a wider spotlight on Under the Bridge and its innovative approach to supporting men’s mental health.

By the end of 2024, Under the Bridge had evolved from a small pilot into a growing community movement — demonstrating the power of people, place, creativity and connection to improve wellbeing.

From Project to Community Movement...

Today, the Under the Bridge Project has entered a new chapter, becoming a standalone Community Interest Company (CIC) built on the strong foundations established during its early years.

What began as a small pilot supporting local men has grown into a recognised community initiative, bringing people together through blue spaces, outdoor activity, creativity and music.

More than 150 men have now taken part in Under the Bridge, with regular sessions typically bringing together 10–20 participants. But the impact of the project goes far beyond the numbers.

We have seen that improving wellbeing is about much more than attending an organised session. It is about creating lasting friendships, building confidence, strengthening communities and giving people the opportunity to support one another — both during the programme and long after a session has finished.

At the heart of Under the Bridge remains the same belief that inspired the project from the beginning: everyone should have the opportunity to experience the positive impact of blue spaces, nature, creativity and human connection.

As an independent CIC, Under the Bridge is now looking to build on this success, working with local partners, developing new opportunities and creating innovative community events that bring people together and encourage positive conversations around mental health.

Looking to the future our ambition is to see the Under the Bridge approach reach other communities across the UK.

What started with a simple partnership has become a growing movement — changing lives, building connections and bringing people together, one connection at a time.