News Archive May 2020
Friday 22nd Food Parcels
Today our Hub team and the Croydon Fire Services made another successful food parcel delivery to our existing clients.
Thank you for arranging for me to receive a food present today. Such a lovely gesture in these difficult times. I have to report that the bread was delicious and was superb for bacon sandwiches at lunchtime … everything was great.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 22nd May 2020
ENDING SOON – Job – Head of Finance and Resources
We are looking for a highly motivated person who has proven financial experience and business acumen which they can exercise within a charitable context.
Based at our head offices in Purley the postholder will be responsible for leading and managing the finance and resources functions for Mind in Croydon. You will work with the Chief Executive and the Board as a key part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) to provide support both at a strategic and operational level. You will ensure the consistent operation of effective financial and budgetary controls. You will provide a high quality service and relevant reporting to a range of stakeholders on all aspects of financial performance and corporate resource planning and implementation.
For further details click here.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 22nd May 2020
Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 – Kindness
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and at Mind in Croydon we’ve been looking at what #kindness means to us, our families and friends
#bekind #MHAW2020
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 20th May 2020
Community Advocacy Still Operating
Our community mental health advocacy service is still operating and available to Croydon residents during the Covid-19 pandemic, please contact the team to discuss concerns with your care and treatment.
For more information see the poster below.
You can contact the team on 0208 763 6730 or email advocacy@mindincroydon.org.uk.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 20th May 2020
Understanding Stress for Carers
As part of our Carers project funded by Croydon Council we are pleased to launch one of our carers Workshop presentations on the theme of ‘Understanding Stress for Carers’ on YouTube.
Caring for someone during lockdown can be especially hard and our services remain open for you to access remotely.
We will look towards posting more presentations on line so please view the news stream on our website: www.mindincroydon.org.uk for updates or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or our WordPress Blog.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 19th May 2020
More food parcels delivered on Friday 15th May
On 15th May, with the help from Croydon Fire Services, we delivered more food parcels to our existing clients. As it was Friday we also included a warm meal.
Once again this was well received. One client was extremely grateful and said:
I was missing a couple of items that I was desperate for and when I looked in the bag there they were. I am so grateful
This important work is reliant on the generosity of those who are in a position to donate to us. You can still do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/covidfoodparcels and support us.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 18th May 2020
Healthwatch Croydon COVID-19 Survey
At this unprecedented time, Healthwatch Croydon wants to ensure that the voices of Croydon’s most vulnerable are heard. That’s why they have created a survey to listen to what the residents of Croydon have experienced in relation to this crisis.
They want to find out if you are well supported by your local health and social care providers and well-equipped in the knowledge of who to call and possibly where to go to get help especially if you are part of a vulnerable group.
Please click here to fill in their survey and help them.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 15th May 2020
Mental Health Week – Webinar Series by Happy Heads
New Webinar Series: How the ‘Happy Heads’ Balance Ball Can Aid Early Intervention and Prevention?
To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week 18-24 May 2020, Happy Heads are hosting a series of ‘free’ evening webinars, focused on the ‘Balance Ball’ and sharing personal stories.
They will be providing an in-depth insight into each of the 7 individual areas of the Happy Heads ‘Balance Ball’ mental health visual recovery tool, rounding off with their team sharing personal stories with you.
All sessions will start at 7pm lasting 45 minutes (excluding 23rd May for 1.5hrs and 29 May for 2hrs), followed by Q&A.
Questions can be submitted in advance by email to: happyheadsmh@hotmail.com.
The sessions will be recorded.
Schedule:
- Monday 18 May – ‘Introduction to Happy Heads (Balance Ball) & Nutrition’ – hosted by Ruth Moragas, Sandeep Saib & Felisha Dussard
- Tuesday 19 May – ‘Purpose, dreams, goals & rewards’ – hosted by Ruth Moragas
- Wednesday 20 May – ‘Hobbies & creativity’ – hosted by Ruth Moragas
- Thursday 21 May – ‘Rest, sleep & self-care’ – hosted by Felisha Dussard
- Friday 22 May – ‘Exercise’ – hosted by Sandeep Saib
- Saturday 23 May – ‘Faith, community & identity’ & ‘Family, friends & alone time’ – hosted by Ruth Moragas & Sandeep Saib
- Friday 29 May – Sharing personal stories – hosted by Happy Heads team
Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1059365194463947/
Join us: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71417208186
Meeting ID: 714 1720 8186
Do pop along to any and please share out wider with your contacts. Join us and let’s empower, encourage and educate.
Stay safe and healthy – see you there!
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 13th May 2020
Food Parcels Positive Feedback
Our Social Networking Team are still working alongside the Croydon Fire Services to deliver food parcels weekly. We have received a mixture of positive feedback from the recipients.
Thank you for my food parcel and hot meal. I just ate the hot meal and thoroughly enjoyed it, as eating well right now is so important but can be a challenge to achieve on a daily basis and especially during lockdown.
Well done Mind in Croydon at the Social Networking Service and the Organisations that you are working with.
I am also very grateful for the Counselling Support you have provided for me.
One of our clients, Nadine, was very thankful to the team.
Thank you so much, it means so much, hope you all keeping well.
We still need donations to enable us to continue this service so if you can support us please think about visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/covidfoodparcels and supporting us.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 11th May 2020
Counselling Service still running
Mind in Croydon’s Counselling Service remains open to referrals. We are delivering the service via remote means including telephone Counselling.
If you are interested in receiving Counselling please enquire with the service by calling 020 8763 2064 alternatively you can email counselling@mindincroydon.org.uk.
Further information can be found by clicking here.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 5th May 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
31 Day Art Challenge raises over £1000 for local mental health charity
Ellis Jurado, 12, lives in Redhill and supports Mind in Croydon each year with fundraising events. This year he set himself an Art Challenge to produce 31 drawings in 31 days in October and raised a whopping £1,250 online – 125% of his original target.
Ellis’ Mum, Lucie, said “We knew that World Mental Health Awareness Day was 10th October, so decided it was the perfect month for him to complete his “Inktober” challenge. We set up an online fundraising page and hoped to raise £500 for Mind. Within the first 8 days Ellis had already hit £500. So we increased the target to £1,000 and by 31st October and 31 fabulous drawings later he managed to raise a whopping £1,250!”
This fantastic fundraising effort will go towards supporting the services that Mind in Croydon currently provides to people and families in Croydon, including social groups and activities, many of which have moved online during the Covid-19 crisis.
Philippa Thompson, Chief Executive at Mind in Croydon, said “We are all so impressed and delighted with what Ellis has done to raise money to support people with mental health issues in Croydon; good mental health often starts with kindness and hope, and that’s what Ellis has given to all of us."
2019-2020: A Year in Numbers
Mind in Croydon is proud to support people in Croydon with their mental health – have a look at our latest Annual Report found at
www.mindincroydon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Annual-Report-2019-20-WEB.pdf for more information.
During the 2019-2020 financial year we supported many clients with their varying needs including:
* 5,563 people with their mental health
* 110 carers
* 1,089 people had contact with a professional independent advocate
* raising £1.1 million in previously unclaimed benefits for Croydon residents
* providing 492 people with counselling sessions
* 1,685 calls received on the infoline
We also had 103 people volunteer for us and they provided 12,000 hours of their time and raised over £55,000 through individual giving, thank you to all of those who supported us.
Mind Policy and campaigns – Zoom meeting with Justin Tomlinson (the Minister for Disabled People)
“Ahead of the anticipated Government Green Paper & National Strategy for Disabled People we had the opportunity to meet virtually in an event hosted by National Mind with the Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson.
We outlined the challenges that Mind in Croydon’s clients experience with the benefits system and how Covid-19 has made navigating the system even harder for many people with mental health issues. People with lived experience of mental health also took part and gave real life examples of how the benefits system creates sometimes insurmountable barriers for them.
Our work is influencing the development of what we hope will be a better benefits system that works for and with people experiencing mental ill health.”
Tom Goddard, Welfare Benefits Advice Service Manager
World Mental Health Day – Mental Health For All
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is ‘mental health for all’.
One of our carers sent in a poem which we would like to share with you.
The poem can be read on our news page at www.mindincroydon.org.uk/news/
Creating conversations in Croydon – The untold stories of loss
Mind in Croydon are pleased to be taking part in ‘Creating conversations in Croydon – The untold stories of loss’ event on World Mental Health Day 10.10.20 @ 2pm. Emma Turner, our Head of Service Delivery will be contributing to these important discussions.
www.facebook.com/mayorofcroydon
Ellis Jurado, 12, lives in Redhill and supports Mind in Croydon each year with fundraising events. This year he set himself an Art Challenge to produce 31 drawings in 31 days in October and raised a whopping £1,250 online. Read more at: http://ht.ly/56Yr30rmJvp #Croydon
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Accreditations & Awards
