News Archive April 2020
Scene in Croydon Hearts
We love these hearts from @sceneincroydon who are kindly donating proceeds from the sales of their Croydon Heart print to us.
They wanted to help by creating something special that can be cherished and act as a reminder of when our community came together to support each other ❤️
The hearts are available to purchase in a variety of sizes at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SceneInCroydon
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 28th April 2020
Thank You Day Lewis Pharmacies
We are very grateful to Day Lewis Pharmacies for the provision of PPE.
This will enable our ongoing work during the Coronavirus pandemic, including our weekly food parcel deliveries for our existing vulnerable clients.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 27th April 2020
Food Parcels – We Need Your Support
We know the impact of delivering food parcels can have on peoples lives at the moment so we are helping our existing vulnerable clients with food parcels during the Covid-19 lockdown.
I just wanted to send you a heartfelt ‘Thank you’ for my food parcel.
I laid my mum to rest on Wednesday 15th April, so am feeling very emotional. Up one minute, sad the next etc. … your gift has all made me feel so much better (I am crying tears of gratitude).
Bless you all at ‘Mind in Croydon (Social Networking Service) and the Organisations that you are working with.
It costs £10 a week to provide basic food items to people including bread, milk, eggs and butter. As we are Mind in Croydon we go the extra mile and ensure that on a Friday people receive a hot meal also.
If you feel you could contribute towards this invaluable service which is delivered by us in conjunction with our colleagues at Croydon Fire Service please help us with a donation, no matter how small.
You can support us at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/covidfoodparcels
Thank you!
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 23rd April 2020
Positive Feedback for the Advocacy Service
Mind in Croydon continues to provide high quality and professional services to our clients at this time. Most recently our Advocacy Service were able to support a Nearest Relative under the amended Mental Health Act (2007) to exert their right to appeal the grounds of detention to which their family member was subject to detention.
“I am so thankful and appreciate the time and information you gave me immensely, as your help and valid information made it possible to get my dad discharged. Since the 20th March there is positive cases of Covid-19 on the ward where my family member was an inpatient.
I have continued to have contact with the nursing staff and they have said “you got your father out at the right time”… words can’t explain how much I really appreciate your help, you saved my father’s life in him being discharged and not becoming one of the Covid-19 cases of that ward.”
If you would like to receive Advocacy support please see how you can make a referral by calling: 020 8763 6730 and/ or emailing: advocacy@mindincroydon.org.uk
Further details can be found by clicking here.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 16th April 2020
Social Networking Food Parcels
During these times, receiving positive feedback goes a long way to keep our staff and each other connected and buoyed.
‘Thank you for the food box you gave to my sibling, and for the care that was taken to provide them with suitable vegan products for their very restricted diet. It was very kind of you all’
Please note that if this is a service you require you must be a member of the Social Networking Service and Croydon Fire Service are only able to provide it to current service users
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 9th April 2020
You Can Still Help By Raising Funds For Us
If you’re looking for something to do whilst you’re isolating in these difficult times, perhaps you might want to organise a fundraising event for Mind in Croydon using social media, video links etc etc.
Despite the COVID 19 restrictions we are still supporting many, many vulnerable people, either by telephone, text or social media. We are also making sure that some of our most vulnerable clients are receiving their medication and we are shopping for food and other essential supplies for our clients too.
COVID 19 restrictions mean that we will probably lose at least £15,000 a month of funding due to our charity shops being closed, rental income being reduced and donations being down.
Any help you can give would be very gratefully received.
You can make your donations via any of the means shown on our website here.
National Mind has listed a few suggestions for ideas you could use here just be sure to direct funds to Mind in Croydon if it is us you wish to fundraise for.
You can also raise money for us while shopping online if you visit retailers through Easy Fundraising. Simply visit this link, support our cause, create an account and visit your retailers through the website each time you want to shop online. We will then receive donations from the retailers for free.
Thank you
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 9th April 2020
Need Help With Your Benefits?
Welfare Benefits Service
There have been a number of changes to the benefits system during the Covid 19 outbreak. We are still here to support you with any questions you might have about Welfare Benefits. This includes establishing benefit entitlement, support with challenging decisions and representation at appeal to the second tier tribunal.
We have a dedicated team of Caseworkers who can help with all welfare benefit issues and can provide up to date advice about benefit entitlement during the Covid 19.
Universal Credit
We also have a team specialising in support around Universal Credit.
The Universal Credit team can help with establishing an entitlement, working out how much Universal Credit you might be able to receive, talking to the Job Centre, filling in forms and challenging decisions made by the DWP.
We are currently limited to support by email, letter and telephone. We are able to pick up the emails and voice messages left.
Email address – wba@mindincroydon.org.uk
Advice line – 020 8763 2037
Please note we are not able to see visitors at any Mind in Croydon until further notice.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 9th April 2020
London Fire Brigade’s Continuing Support
Continuing their support of Mind in Croydon’s Social Networking Service, Croydon Fire Service assisted in delivering vital food packages to our vulnerable clients today. Food packages included some Easter treats. Our huge thanks go out to all those involved including some of the Mind in Croydon staff who donated towards these packages.
Please note that if this is a service you require you must be a member of the Social Networking Service and Croydon Fire Service are only able to provide it to current service users.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 8th April 2020
Thanks to New Addington Fire Station
Mind in Croydon are hugely grateful to our colleagues at New Addington Fire Station.
Members of the fire service based at New Addington have enabled Mind in Croydon’s Social Networking Service to support clients who are vulnerable in the most urgent of times.
We would like say a big thank you for the help and support provided including dropping off food parcels to people’s homes as well as ensuring that when a person was admitted to hospital they had their mobile phone delivered to them on a Friday evening to enable them to stay in touch with their family.
Please note that if this is a service you require you must be a member of the Social Networking Service and New Addington Fire Station are only able to provide it to current service users
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 6th April 2020
Service changes at South London and Maudsley
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust wanted to update on how they have been adapting in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Please click here for more information.
People who need mental health support should call SLaM’s mental health support line on 0800 731 2864.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 3rd April 2020
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
Latest Updates
Follow Mind in Croydon on your favourite social network
Mind Responds to Benefits Reassessments Returning
The government announced that benefits reassessments will return this month. This is far too soon. Mind has been calling for urgent improvements to make benefits assessments more fair, accessible and accurate during this crisis and beyond.
Our very own Tom Goddard, Welfare Benefits Service Manager, was mentioned in Mind’s response which you can read at www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/mind-responds-to-governments-announcement-that-they-will-rein....
“So I Speak” poem
Amanda Brown-Bennett has volunteered with Mind in Croydon in the past and continues to work with us supporting our volunteer counsellors. She created the poem, So I Speak which can be viewed here.
" It really breaks my heart to observe many of the ongoing tensions we currently face, and for me, the saddest part has to be the naivety that we have in understanding just how prevalent injustice and inequality is within our social institutions. As a person of colour, what particularly concerned me was how I operate within this system, and having being challenged in a number of ways, came to realise just how much I had allowed my environment to silence me, suppress my cultural identity and personal convictions.
The ‘So I speak poem’ was my attempt to speak out and finally overcome the silencing that had me bound. "
You can follow the So I Speak project on instagram @soispeak_project) and Facebook (So I Speak Project).
Immersive Spring Show by Music Relief
A 360° DIY transformative, interactive, gallery experience that brings together the best of music, art, augmented, and virtual reality. Sound tracked to a special rendition of Bill Withers – ‘Lean On Me’ and Ben E King – ‘Stand By Me’ performed by music students, Music Relief ambassadors, as well as featured tracks from established and up and coming artists, using the complex interplay between music and technology to shape your emotions and take you on a cathartic storytelling experience.
In addition, they are also inviting submissions from young people to showcase their artistic talents The shortlisted pieces will be exhibited in their virtual gallery. The themes are ‘Positivity and Mental Health’, highly relevant given the current global situation surrounding COVID-19. They are accepting entries in the form of poems, spoken word, creative writing, as well as photos or videos of sculptures, graffiti work, drawings, graphic design, illustration, photography, and paintings. Entries can be submitted to office@music-relief.com. Music Relief understand the value of arts and culture, and so aim to provide young people with as many opportunities as possible to develop, share and celebrate their creative skills. Entries are open to youths aged up to 25.
This virtual event will take place Saturday 11th July @ 1pm and will be streamed worldwide to promote unity and solidarity with the global community.
Please note: The virtual event will take place on YouTube and is accessible for all. However, for an enhanced immersive experience you can also watch using Google Cardboard.
Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-artists-immersive-spring-show-tickets-104200789366
Young Artists - Immersive Spring Show
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Join us for a spectacular virtual reality experience - featuring performances and multi-dimensional art exhibition.Mayor of Croydon Gala Dinner Change
Mind in Croydon is delighted to be one of the Mayor’s chosen charities that he is supporting in 2019/20.
Unfortunately due to COVID19 the Mayor will be unable to have his Gala Dinner.
As a result the Mayor has decided to do one last fundraiser for his chosen charities in conjunction with 4 local restaurants (Chat House; Urban Guj; Bagatti’s; and Zafran) with an opportunity for you to have a conversation with him as a final farewell.
The idea is that there will be a set menu which you can choose from (see Menu’s on our website at: www.mindincroydon.org.uk/news/mayor-of-croydon-gala-dinner-change/) and a percentage of the proceeds will go to the Mayor’s charities. Once you have placed an order you can request a code from the restaurant which will enable you to join the Mayor for a conversation on Sunday 5th July 2020 via Zoom for 30 minutes. Slots are from 6.30pm – 8.30pm depending on the restaurant code.
How it will work:
Place an order at your preferred restaurant mentioning ‘The Mayor’s Charity Gala Diner’ and request a code
Receive delicious food
Email: humayun.kabir@croydon.gov.uk with your code for a link to join him for a conversation
Zoom Timings:
Chat House: 6.30 – 7pm
Urban Guj: 7 – 7.30pm
Bagatti’s: 7.30 – 8pm
Zafran: 8 – 8.30pm
You can try a menu from these 4 restaurants multiple times. Food can be ordered anytime from now till Sunday 5th July 2020.
Mr Mayor hopes you will help him fundraise one last time and join him for a final farewell as Mayor.
Mayor of Croydon Gala Dinner Change - Mind in Croydon
www.mindincroydon.org.uk
Unfortunately due to COVID19 the Mayor will be unable to have his Gala Dinner. As a result the Mayor has decided to do one last fundraiser for his chosen charities in conjunction with 4 local restaurants (Chat House; Urban Guj; Bagatti’s; and Zafran) with an opportunity for you to have a conversat...Mind in Croydon’s Allotment Plot is looking fab after some work in preparation for re-opening to the horticulture group later this year. We look forward to welcoming you! For more information on this group contact Active Minds on 020 8253 8205 or email activeminds@mindincroydon.org.uk.
More information on the service can be found at www.mindincroydon.org.uk/how-we-can-help/connecting-with-people/active-minds/.
Accreditations & Awards
