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
Elefriends
Elefriends is a supportive online 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
Information Line
Mind in Croydon operate a confidential mental health telephone information line: Please telephone our freephone number 020 8668 2210 Find out more
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Light a Candle for World Suicide Prevention Day 2020
Join us on Thursday 10th Sep, World Suicide Prevention Day, and light a candle near a window at 8pm to show your support for suicide prevention, to remember a lost loved one and for the survivors of suicide.
If you want to find out more about our Suicide Prevention project, and how you can help those in need, check out our website: swlondon.nhs.uk/ourwork/suicide-prevention/
Suicide Prevention - South West London Health and Care Partnership
swlondon.nhs.uk
Suicide is preventable. We can all do something to help a person that is feeling suicidal, whether it be a family member, friend, or stranger. Simply just starting a conversation with someone could save a life. The 10th September marks World Suicide Prevention Day and we want to encourage you ... Re...World Suicide Prevention Day - 10th September 2020
The 10th September marks World Suicide Prevention Day and we want to encourage you to take a minute.
Taking a minute to reach out to someone in your community – a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger – could change the course of another’s life.
The FREE Zero Suicide Alliance Training teaches you to recognise warning signs & safeguard someone who could be at risk. It takes 20 mins and could prove absolutely vital. Sign up here: zerosuicidealliance.com
If you want to find out more about our Suicide Prevention project, and how you can help those in need, check out our website: swlondon.nhs.uk/ourwork/suicide-prevention/
Mindline Trans+ Crowdfunder
Mindline Trans+ is a joint service delivered by Mind in Bristol and Mind in Somerset.
Trans and non-binary people are particularly vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to societal stigma and a lack of access to focused services.
This is a vital service for people in society who are at a greater risk of hate crime and of experiencing mental health problems. A transgender mental health study showed that 88% of transgender people had experienced depression and 84% had thought of ending their life.
They need your help to extend their UK Wide service from 2 to 3 nights a week. This will help them to reach people in hard to reach areas. Part of the funding will help the training and support of call handlers by staff. Another expense they anticipate this funding will cover is the publicity of the service in rural areas and the coordination this will involve.
To support their crowdfunding campaign please visit www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/mindline-trans.
www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk
#StrongerCommunities 💛 To expand our emotional support helpline for people who identify as transgender and non-binary from 2 nights to 3 nights a week.JOB - RECOVERY SPACE (crisis café) MANAGER
* Full time permanent 36 hours per week (worked on a rota basis so that the Recovery Space can operate 6pm -11pm, 7 days per week, 365 days of the year)
* £30,466 to £32,452 pa permanent (between Grade 5, Scale point S11to S14 on the Mind salary scale)
We are looking for a Manager and four staff for an exciting innovative venture at Mind in Croydon. We are starting up a new Recovery Space (crisis café) for Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group. This new service is an opportunity to make a real difference, and to give clients the support they need at the time they most need it. The aim of the service is to divert people, who would be better supported elsewhere, away from Accident and Emergency (A&E) and other crisis services in Croydon. The Recovery Space will operate in the evenings with people triaged by the Emergency Department of Croydon University Hospital or from the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT).
We are looking for some exceptional individuals to come and join us in our award-winning local Mind. The Recovery Space (crisis café) Manager leads this provision of a non-clinical, warm and welcoming setting to support and hold individuals during the evening which will operate from our social Networking Service in the heart of East Croydon.
Mind in Croydon will operate the Recovery Space during the hours of 6pm – 11pm 7days/week, 365 days of the year. The post is permanent, 36 hours per week, worked on a rota basis with other members of your team. Your skills and expertise will be used to lead this successful venture. You will have solid experience in the mental health field as well as good managerial skills and the ability to motivate a team. We offer a supportive environment to staff, with excellent terms and conditions, a pension scheme with Now pensions, and 28 days per annum holiday rising to 33 days after 5 years.
Last date for return of signed application forms to our offices, 26 Pampisford Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 2NE is 5pm, Friday 11 September.
Application forms can be found at www.mindincroydon.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/
Mind in Croydon Ltd is striving to be an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all groups.
JOBS – RECOVERY SPACE WORKERS x 4
* Full time permanent 36 hours per week (worked on a rota basis so that the Recovery Space can operate 6pm-11pm, 7 days per week, 365 days of the year)
* £27,816 to £28,478 pa permanent (between Grade 4, Scale point S7 to S8 on the Mind salary scale)
We are looking for four Recovery Space Workers for an exciting, innovative venture at Mind in Croydon. We are starting up a new Recovery Space (crisis café) for Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group. This new service is an opportunity to make a real difference, and to give clients the support they need at the time they most need it. The aim of the service is to divert people, who would be better supported elsewhere, away from Accident and Emergency (A&E) and other crisis services in Croydon. The Recovery Space will operate in the evenings with people triaged by the Emergency Department of Croydon University Hospital or from the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT).
We are looking for some exceptional individuals to come and join us in our award-winning local Mind. The Recovery Space which will operate from our social Networking Service in the heart of East Croydon, provides a non-clinical, warm and welcoming setting to support and hold individuals during the evenings. Mind in Croydon will operate the Recovery Space during the hours of 6pm – 11pm 7days/week, 365 days of the year.
These posts are permanent, 36 hours per week, worked on a rota basis with other members of your team. Your skills and experience will be invaluable in this successful venture. You will have solid experience in the mental health field as well as the ability to work and be happy in a team. We offer a supportive environment to staff, with excellent terms and conditions, a pension scheme with Now pensions, and 28 days per annum holiday rising to 33 days after 5 years.
Last date for return of signed application forms to our offices, 26 Pampisford Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 2NE is 5pm, Friday 11 September.
Application forms can be found at: www.mindincroydon.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/
Mind in Croydon Ltd is striving to be an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all groups.
Accreditations & Awards
