Friends for Mental Health (East Kent)
Based in hospitals and communities throughout East Kent, the Friends for Mental Health encourage those with mental health problems to volunteer both within mental health services and in the wider community. They have been an active group for over fifty years and in this time they have progressed from working within hospitals to being mainly community based. When psychiatric hospitals in the area started to close down, they recognised that ever increasing numbers of people living in the community needed support. They thereby became one of the first groups to focus its work within the community and not solely within hospitals.
The Friends have volunteers that befriend service users to provide them with companionship and help battle feelings of isolation, as well as helping to live as comfortably as possibly. In the past they have aided service users by helping with costs such as phone bills. The Friends also help to provide opportunities into education and volunteering and have contributed through subsidising books. For service users with a passion for art, the Friends have put money towards art courses or setting up an exhibition. Through a display of their talents, these individuals grow in confidence and improve their general wellbeing.
To raise this money, the Friends hold various fundraising events throughout the year, including the Friends Fair, which was held at St Martin’s Hospital in July last year. Amongst the activities were model train rides, Tudor dance workshops, live music and a ‘Beat the Goalie’ game run by Charlton Athletic. The day was a great success and those who attended commented on the lovely atmosphere and the sense of fun that surrounded the afternoon. Through such events the Friends aim to help break down the stigmas surrounding mental health. They actively promote a positive image at fundraising events and work to raise awareness of mental health issues. At this year’s Whitstable Carnival the Friends will have a roundabout with their new logo on it. Through their presence at these events the Friends are aiming to up the profile of mental health and raise awareness in the general public.
The Friends have received an Opportunities for Volunteering grant from Attend to help them find creative ways of allowing service users to broaden their skills and knowledge outside the hospital setting. The young volunteers are supported with mentoring to make the transition into everyday life easier. ‘We also use Attend for their advice,’ says Jill Butler. ‘We appreciate having somewhere to ring up when we need to.’
Created 29th March 2012
The Friends for Mental Health are former members of Attend. For more information, or to join, please click here.
