Wintering Well boxes roll out across UK libraries to support winter wellbeing
By Mental Health Correspondent
Hundreds of boxes designed to help people cope with the darker winter months will be available to borrow from public libraries across the UK this year.
The Wintering Well Boxes contain a therapeutic light lamp, a guidebook with ideas for building healthier winter routines, and access to a free online course.
The scheme aims to help people manage the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can affect mood and energy levels during the shorter days.
A total of 600 boxes will be shared across 16 library services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, following two years of trials in Scotland.
The project was developed by researchers at the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, with funding from the Economic and Social Research Council. More than 1,000 loans have been recorded since the scheme began in East Dunbartonshire in 2024, with further rollouts in Glasgow and Orkney.
Professor Hester Parr, of the University of Glasgow, said feedback from people using the boxes showed that small changes to daily routines and creative activities could help improve mood and make winter easier to manage.
Where to borrow a Wintering Well Box
In England, North Yorkshire Council is making 150 boxes available following funding from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme.
The scheme was launched at Harrogate Library and will be supported by a programme of winter wellbeing events. North Yorkshire is the only library service in England offering the boxes this year.
In Wales, 11 library services will take part, covering Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Conwy, Newport, the Vale of Glamorgan and Caerphilly.
The guidebook Light is a Right: A Guide to Wintering Well will also be available across Wales through the BorrowBox digital library platform.
In Northern Ireland, boxes will be available from Dungannon, Omagh, Portaferry and Glengormley libraries.
Scotland is also expanding the scheme. Edinburgh Library Service is introducing boxes at Wester Hailes, Morningside and Muirhouse libraries, while East Renfrewshire joins the scheme for the first time. Glasgow has increased its supply to 185 boxes across the city, following strong demand when the scheme launched there in 2025. Libraries in East Dunbartonshire and Orkney will continue to offer them.
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The project is co-led by Professor Hayden Lorimer of the University of Edinburgh. He said the involvement of library services across all four nations reflected the progress made through the initial work with Scottish public libraries.
Libraries Connected chief executive Isobel Hunter MBE said the boxes offered another way for libraries to help people look after their mental and physical health, particularly when shorter days and darker weather affect their wellbeing.
