News Archive October 2017
The Hub is celebrated at the 2017 Mayor of Croydon Civic Awards
Mind in Croydon’s project, the Hub, was shortlisted for a Mayor of Croydon Civic Award. Last Tuesday (17th October) staff and members attended the ceremony to celebrate the exceptional people who make Croydon a brilliant place for people to live, grow, work and visit. More than 200 nominations were made across ten categories and after careful consideration 25 nominees were shortlisted for the community awards. Although we were pipped at the post for the award, everyone had a brilliant time and it was a great accolade to have our work recognised in this way.
Councillor Toni Letts, Mayor of Croydon, said: “Croydon is full of unsung heroes, people who selflessly give their time and put others first to the benefit of their neighbours and the wider community. This is evidenced by the incredible number of nominations we received across the categories. I’d like to congratulate all of the finalists and thank everyone who submitted a nomination and for those who weren’t shortlisted on this occasion, thank you for what you do for our town and its residents.”
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 20th October 2017
Shaka and the Croydon Eagles
Shaka is another success story from the Croydon Eagles, the football team that Mind in Croydon runs in partnership with the Palace for Life Foundation. Shukhan (Shaka) Scanlan, grew up in Norwood, and loved playing football when he was younger, with his mum taking him to Pelo FC in Dulwich. Here, he enjoyed the little tournaments and went on to play for one of their League teams. Shaka went to school in Gypsy Hill, which he really liked and then after school went to study at Bromley College. However things started to take a turn for the worse around this time and Shaka dropped out of college pretty quickly.
He began to experience “sadness and bad dreams” which has taken his focus away from his interests. Shaka began to spend more and more time at home and the bad thoughts continued to grow. His sister helped Shaka to get in touch with Mind In Croydon, whose Active Minds project supported Shaka to join the football programme that the Palace for Life Foundation supports for adults who have experienced mental health problems.
Thinking back to his first day with us just over a year ago Shaka says he “liked it straight away. I liked being active and the boys were all good to me.” Now a regular member of the group, Shaka thinks the best things about coming to the program are “the matches we play in training every Wednesday, the league games we play and the camaraderie amongst the players.” Shaka does see some of the other lads in Croydon outside of these sessions from time to time, but he is happiest just coming and playing rather than trying to make a new group of friends.
Shaka acknowledges that coming to our football sessions has made a positive change to his life. He now also plays for the mental health football team that has grown out of these weekly training sessions, the Croydon Eagles. He says: “Getting active, getting out and doing things is good for the mind. It brings back good memories of when I used to play. I feel fitter and stronger and am improving again, trying to get back into playing.” If he was not involved with the programme and the Croydon Eagles, Shaka states that he would “probably be at home, not doing anything” which he believes does not help him maintain good mental health.
Things are still not easy for Shaka but he knows that these sessions are helping him do things that he thought he couldn’t do anymore. “I really look forward to coming every week.” he says. When asked if he would recommend this to anyone else who is experiencing mental health problems Shaka suggests that anyone interested should “come along and see it for themselves.”
Palace for Life Foundation Disability Manager Michael Harrington, who runs the weekly football sessions at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, offers the following insight:“Shaka was very quiet when he first came to us, and he still can be today. It was clear from day 1 that he had a great touch but his fitness levels and strength were low, leaving him struggling at times to keep up with others in the group. However attending regularly, and working hard when he is with us, has brought these levels up remarkably and he now can train and play for two hours straight through without the need for additional breaks. It is not just the football side that we aim to focus on, the social side of programs like this are equally as vital. This was highlighted to us when Shaka continued to come to recent training sessions even when he was out injured with a fractured wrist so he could see what was going on and to feel part of the group. His wrist is now healed and he is back doing what he loves the most – playing football!”
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 19th October 2017
Minding Money to run from The Hub
From 25th October 2017 the Minding Money Project will be run via The Hub in our East Croydon building. This project will run for 6 weeks.
The address is: Fairfield House, 10 Altyre Road, East Croydon, Surrey, CR0 5LA.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 19th October 2017
Our CEO features in ITV News London
Our CEO, Richard Pacitti, appeared as part of an ITV News London feature on the importance of peer support for young people. The report was about two young women from Croydon who have experienced mental health problems who have set up a peer support group. You can watch the clip here: https://youtu.be/0cUB4OFL5cE
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 13th October 2017
Last chance to have your say on the council’s five year plan for carers
Date: Monday 30th October
Time: 10-30am-12.30pm
Venue: Carers Support Centre, George Street, Croydon, CR0 1PB
Meet Carers’ Commissioner Stephen Bahjooshy.
Learn about the Carers’ Strategy
Read the draft and give feedback
Free lunch provided
Call 020 8649 6280 or email info@carersinfo.org.uk to sign up.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 13th October 2017
Cook & Taste and Boxercise start soon!
Cook & Taste
Want to brush up on your cooking skills?
Join our cook and taste session where we learn to cook different dishes each week.
Location: Orchard House
Next Group: Monday 6th Nov
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: FREE
Boxercise
Come and train with three times World Champion, Duke McKenzie, using non-contact boxing techniques.
Location: Crystal Palace
Next Group: Starts 3rd Nov
Duration: 6 weeks
Cost: FREE
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 6th October 2017
Macmillan Coffee Morning
As part of the “World’s Biggest Coffee Morning” held on Friday 29th September in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, the staff and members of the Hub at Fairfield held a coffee morning. We had donations of delicious homemade cakes from both staff and members and we transformed downstairs at Fairfield into a tea room for the afternoon while also taking a tray of home baked goodies outside to offer to passers-by for a small donation. We also had a guess the height of the cake competition to win a beautiful rose covered cake donated by Luigi.
It was a relaxing and fun afternoon and we raised a grand total of £260 for Macmillan.
A big thank you to all who brought, bought and ate cake.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 4th October 2017
Pop Choir Concert
St Mildred’s Church in Addiscombe are holding a concert to raise money for charity this Saturday.
Our Friends in Need service has been picked as one of the charities to benefit from this concert so do pop along and support them.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 3rd October 2017
Mental Health Directory
Search for information on mental health services in the Croydon area Find out more
Information Line
Mind in Croydon operate a confidential mental health telephone information line: Please telephone our freephone number 020 8668 2210 Find out more
Side By Side
Side by Side is a supportive online mental health community where you can be yourself. We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, but now there's a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Find out more
Latest Updates
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Mind in Croydon is a Disability Confident employer
7.7 million working age people in the UK have a disability and Mind in Croydon is actively committed to recruiting and retaining disabled people, including people living with a mental illness. We’ve signed up to the national Disability Confident Scheme which encourages and supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to our workplaces. The scheme has replaced the Two Ticks: Positive about Disabled People scheme. It has been developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives, working together to change attitudes, behaviour and cultures in businesses, networks and communities, and to realise the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
Peter Phillips, our Employment & Social Inclusion Services manager, chairs Croydon’s Disability Confident Action Group (DCAG). He said “It’s an honour to be involved in the DCAG partnership and to work with local employers and disabled peoples’ groups to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace”.
For more information about Disability Confident, please visit disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
Trustee Needed for Maudsley Charity
Would you like to make a difference in mental health in South London?
The Maudsley Charity are looking for a new Trustee to join their team. They are seeking candidates who are deeply connected in one of the four boroughs that South London and Maudsley serve (Lambeth, Croydon, Southwark and Lewisham), and are interested in people who have been involved in community leadership and organisation. They would also like candidates from the BAME communities in South London.
Based in South London they work closely with South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Kinds College London and a wide range of community organisations across Lewisham, Lambeth, Croydon and Southwark.
For more information visit www.maudsleycharity.org and for the full recruitment pack visit jobs.prospect-uk.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00178170.
The full advert can be read by clicking the image below.
Deadline for applications is Monday 8th March 2021.
We’re Recruiting
Mind in Croydon is looking for up to 4 new trustees to strengthen its friendly and effective Board. If you would like to help promote positive mental health, resilience, recovery, independence and social inclusion, have an enquiring mind, can think creatively and challenge constructively, we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking particularly for local people with lived or other experience of mental health, and skills in finance, local authority or health commissioning, housing, fundraising, income generation, social enterprise, campaigning, marketing, publicity, PR, or social media.
Please check out our Trustee Recruitment Pack found at www.mindincroydon.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/, and get in touch.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 28th February.
Zoom Groups for Hub Members – 8th Feb onwards
From Monday the 8th February onwards, Hub Members are invited to the following groups on Zoom. Please contact the team in advance for the links to the groups.
Mondays
Fitness – 11am – Session lasts for one hour, please ensure you have water if needed
Telly Addicts – 2pm – Session lasts for one hour, please ensure you have a pen and paper
Tuesdays
Bingo – 11am – Session lasts one hours, please inform staff if you need a Bingo card or print off.
Quiz – 2pm – Session lasts one and a half hours, please ensure you have a pen and paper
Wednesdays
Blockbuster Quiz – 2pm – Session lasts one hour
Thursdays
Over 55’s – 11am – Session lasts 2 hours
Text Factor Singing – 2pm – Session lasts one and a half hours, please contact the team with a song choice
Fridays
STAFF MEETINGS – No Groups
For more information and the zoom links contact the team on 020 8688 1210 and leave a voice message or email fairfield@mindincroydon.org.uk.
We will get back to you by the next working day.
Time to Talk Day – Virtual Festival – 3-4 February 2021
Time to Talk Day from Time to Change is a chance for thousands of us – schools, workplaces and communities – to join together on one day to tackle the silence and the stigma that still surround mental health. And we won’t let the fact that we can’t see each other face-to-face stop us.
They are hosting a day of online activities that anyone can join from home – no tickets required! They are creating a space where their supporters can come together and feel the power of being part of something much bigger.
Whether you’re watching as part of a group or simply enjoying the event yourself, they want you to go away feeling inspired to talk about mental health.
You’ll be able to watch the virtual festival and catch up with any sessions you missed on their virtual festival page found here - www.time-to-change.org.uk/time-talk-day/get-involved/virtual-festival?utm_source=Schools%20Update...
Wednesday 3 February
7pm: Time to Talk Day 2021 launch – the power of talking
A conversation between Jo Loughran, Director of Time to Change, and representatives from their sister charities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and about the importance of talking mental health and the power that conversation has in tackling stigma.
Thursday 4 February
10am: Young Champions – tips for talking mental health
Ever wanted to check in or support a friend with a mental health problem, but worried about how to go about it? Join two of their Young Champions who will be discussing how small things that anyone can do, can make a big difference. This event is perfect for young people and schools.
12noon: Cooking lunch with Sean
Hang out in Time to Change Champion Sean’s kitchen as he shares his recipe for a tasty salmon lunch. Either cook alongside him or just watch and listen as he talks about healthy cooking and the importance of talking about mental health. If you’d like to cook along with Sean, you can download the list of ingredients below.
Ingredients can be found at: www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/Sean%27s%20salmon%20lunch%20ingredients_2.pdf
1pm: Lunch and learn
Time to Change has worked with more than 1,500 employers over the years to improve attitudes to mental health in the workplace. Jo Loughran, Director of Time to Change, will host a conversation between Darea Flanagan from E.ON and Jessica Badley from Blood Cancer UK to find out about the small changes that make a big difference in the workplace when it comes to talking more openly about mental health.
3pm: Fontanna’s laughter yoga
It’s time to get laughing as Time to Change Champion Fontanna takes you through a series of exercises that will have you in stitches. Fontanna will also talk about their experience of being a Champion.
5pm: Ridhima’s Bollywood dance
Learn some new moves as Time to Change Champion Ridhima teaches you some key steps. Ridhima regularly uses Bollywood dance as a way of encouraging people to talk about mental health.
Accreditations & Awards
