By Susan Newcombe

After raising £400,000 to buy its premises Coalville CAN welcomed the arrival of spring with its Wellbeing Day last weekend.

The Sunday event offered people then chance to try out what the area has to offer to support health-conscious living - including why snakes matter.

Event organiser Helen Bazen said that, as signs of the new season start to appear, the day of local practitioners showcasing how to enhance wellbeing met the three core aims of the organisation - whose name stands for Community and Neighbours.

Helen said: "As citizens, not consumers, the event establishes what's already in the local community.

"It connects practitioners, including artists and creatives who have knowledge and expertise, as well as those looking to start up and those wanting to find out more.

She added that, as the National Lottery funding has come to an end, the fundraising included a £30,000 donation from musician Brian Eno's community fund, loans and grants - and a community share offer.

Helen said: "People bought the shares, releasing us from landlords and rent increases, and matching the ideals of people, supporting the local economy."

Ian Wilson, Ellie West and Helen Bazen of Coalville CAN

Attending the event were social enterprises including Joyfully Well with Esme Coss, Carla Harris Glass and snake handler Finn Holmes-Kellet.

Helen added: "The day was about encouraging people to get out and make the most of opportunities on their doorsteps here in the heart of the National Forest with a range of health-based networking events to bring people together.

"Strawberry patch bags decorated with real fruit promise more of what's to come."

Better Outdoors and Green Life Innovations reconnected people with the great outdoors while creative practitioners, including artist-in-residence Hayley Fern, explored therapeutic painting techniques and art therapy.

Counsellor Chrissie Henson told her moving story of how she technically 'died' at birth, but went on to overcome cerebral palsy and become a qualified therapist with a client-list of 12.

Incredible Edible visited from Loughborough to talk about growing food in urban areas.

CCAN Chief Executive Officer Ian Wilson said the answers to our problems are here.

Ian said: "Coalville CAN is run on the ideals of a citizens' model with people having a say in their own life. People own the building and are not told what to do."