News Archive January 2021
Carers Drop-In Weekly Sessions
In light of the current Pandemic we will be providing additional support to Carers in the Borough of Croydon with a Carers drop-in weekly support session. This is in addition to the Carers monthly psycho-educational group which will be on the 1st February at 10.30-11.15am. February’s topic is on ‘Managing Challenging Behaviour’.
If you live, work or attend college in Croydon or you care for someone who lives, works or attends college in Croydon are aged 18 years or over and live in the borough of Croydon, you are eligible to attend the Carers Drop-In groups via Zoom starting on Monday 8th February 2021 @ 6.30pm (for one hour) and will be held weekly at the same time and day.
The idea is to give Carers the opportunity to talk about, share experiences and concerns about caring. We acknowledge that some Carers may not have much support at this time due to the lockdown restrictions and also with this being an evening session, Carers that work during the day will have a chance to gain support outside working hours.
If you are interested in attending the Drop-In’s, please contact us on 0208 763 2064 or email counselling@mindincroydon.org.uk so we can send you the Zoom link.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 28th January 2021
HUB SOCIALLY DISTANCED CHRISTMAS!
We can all agree that Christmas was a little ‘different’ from that of previous years at Mind in Croydon, but thanks to our amazing staff at Fairfield House and Pampisford Road and the wonderful crew at the London Fire Brigade, we were able to offer seasonal cheer and a fabulous lunch to our Hub members and Carers! Hub member Anne Soppitt made an incredibly generous donation to the Hub which helped to fund the Christmas meals, so we offer her our heart-felt gratitude!
The Christmas meals were spread over a period of 4 days, with 2 dining slots per day. We had a starter, main course and dessert from Traditional Turkey to a Vegetarian choice if preferred. And no Christmas dinner would be complete without the usual Christmas crackers, lame jokes, Bingo games and a dancing Snowman!
The L.F.B. offered a talk to the attendees on how to keep themselves safe from fire at Christmas, which was a generous contribution our schedule.
Fun was had by all and everyone attending commented on how much they enjoyed the events, especially after such a long and challenging past 9 months!
Special thanks also go out to Arlene and Angela who were beavering away in the kitchen over the 4 days and produced some delicious food for all to enjoy!
In the words of our resident dancing snowman; We have ‘snow’ idea what the new year will bring, but we wish you all a ‘cool’ and healthy 2021!
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 6th January 2021
Virtual Coffee Morning
Both the Asian Resource Centre and the BME Forum want our Croydon community and beyond to be well-informed and listened to in regards to the covid-19 vaccine, as well as the effects of 2020 on our mental health.
A virtual coffee morning based around the topic of Mental Health and Social Isolation.
Date: Wednesday 13th January 2021
Time: 11am-12.30pm
To book your FREE ticket visit the Eventbrite Page here.
Dr Vaishali Shetty (Governing Body GP Member Croydon CCG), Dr June Brown (Friendship Bench Project), Susan Underhill (Programmes Director, Age UK) and Tanya Kirrage (Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, SLAM) will be joining the chat to answer any questions you may have.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 5th January 2021
CROYDON TRADING STANDARDS – Fake NHS texts re COVID vaccine
A dangerous fake NHS text has been circulating, telling people they’re eligible to apply for the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what it looks like:
Clicking on the link (URL) takes you through to an extremely convincing fake NHS website that asks for your personal details. The site requests bank/card details in order to ‘check your identity’. We know that criminals will use the confusion and urgency around the pandemic as a way to target potential victims. Please do not click on any links such as these.
The full article published by ‘Which?’ can be found here.
If you are an older or vulnerable person and have actually been the victim of a fraud please call 101 and request to report to a police officer. Whilst many frauds are now reported over the phone to Action Fraud – any vulnerable person should be reporting directly to the police.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 5th January 2021
COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine – Your Questions Answered
COVID-19 has been the single biggest public health emergency in the history of the NHS.
Asian Resource Centre is hosting a public conversation/Q&A about the COVID-19 vaccination programme with the experts.
Date: Tuesday 5th January 2021
Time: 6pm-7.30pm (please login from 5.50pm to ensure a prompt start)
To book your FREE ticket visit the Eventbrite Page here.
Questions can be sent in advance to lizzie.hewitt@arcccltd.com
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 4th January 2021
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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
