A ‘TRAVELLING happiness bar’ will be popping up in libraries in a bid to spark conversations about mental health.

It is one of 14 library projects across the UK chosen to inspire debate on the issue.

Bolton Libraries are working in partnership with housing agency Bolton at Home and community interest company Breakdown Bolton.

A ‘bartender’ will speak to people about the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ while encouraging them to take part in community activities such as health walks and mindfulness classes.

Poetry and art workshops will also be suggested as a way of sparking creativity.

The £15,000 pilot project is one of winning applicants to receive new ‘Engaging Libraries’ funding from the philanthropic organisation Carnegie UK Trust and charitable foundation Wellcome.

The funding aims to help communities explore wellbeing issues including stress, obesity, body image and even death in new ways.

Cllr John Byrne said: “This funding means we now have an opportunity to get people thinking and engage with local people more on important wellbeing issues and encourage greater discussion, all within the safety and familiarity of the local library.

“The travelling exhibit is designed specifically to reach more people in the community, and perhaps those who don’t normally have an opportunity to take part in these conversations.”

The winning projects were selected with the input of an expert advisory group including representatives from the Society of Chief Librarians, CILIP The Library and Information Association and Arts Council England. Martyn Evans, chief executive, Carnegie UK Trust said: “Public libraries are unique, trusted places at the heart of local communities. The Engaging Libraries programme gives libraries the opportunity to engage with the public on a range of complex health and wellbeing issues, providing a safe space for debate, discussion, interaction and learning.

As a result of the high standard of entries to take part in the programme, additional funding was provided by Wellcome to allow a further four projects to take part in the pilot initiative. All participating projects will be invited to be part of a new, national online network to share learning and best practice.

Simon Chaplin, director of culture and society at Wellcome said: “Public libraries are a place where people can connect with and create ideas as well as discover information. This funding will help libraries discover how they can help their communities explore ideas related to health. As an organisation dedicated to improving health Wellcome is delighted to be supporting these projects.”

The impact of the Engaging Libraries programme will be independently evaluated by social research company Blake Stevenson Ltd.