Category: Latest News

News

Recovery Centre Officially Opened

Homepage Slide, Latest News

Our £3.5million mental health recovery centre has been officially opened by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, John Crabtree OBE.

St Clair Gardens, a 24-hour residential recovery centre in Foleshill, Coventry, has achieved much success since opening in April last year, having already supported dozens of residents and been honoured with a series of awards.

The ceremony was also attended by the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Linda Bigham, along with staff and trustees of the mental health charity and residents of St Clair Gardens.

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind worked with city-based builders Harrabin Construction and architects IDP to design and develop the 14-bed residential recovery centre on the site of the former Livingstone Road Baths.

It was a double celebration for Kay St Clair, the charity’s first CEO after whom the centre is named. She marked 30 years’ service with the charity in the week of the official opening. She said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands and the Lord Mayor of Coventry to celebrate the official opening of St Clair Gardens, the jewel in our crown. It has been our charity’s dream for so long and is a valuable addition to our range of support services, from resilience building through to care and support for individuals with complex needs. I was hugely honoured by the decision to name our recovery centre St Clair Gardens and feel extremely proud of what has been achieved so far. My thanks go to all who have worked with us to make the dream a reality and our staff whose tireless efforts help people experiencing mental health problems on their road to recovery and greater independence.”

Kay St Clair, Coventry and Warwickshire Mind CEO

St Clair Gardens has won the Best Offsite Project category of the West Midlands Celebrating Construction Awards 2019 and was awarded Highly Commended in the national Building Better Healthcare Awards. St Clair Gardens was also shortlisted for the national Design in Mental Health Awards.

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind won the Embracing Opportunity and Harnessing Risk category of the national Charity Governance Awards in May this year, with the residential recovery centre key to this achievement.

  • L – R Gail Jones, trustee, Pat Allen, chair of the board of trustees, the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, John Crabtree OBE, Kay St Clair, Coventry and Warwickshire Mind CEO, and the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Linda Bigham.

Suicide Prevention Day

Latest News

Suicide Prevention Day is a worldwide awareness raising day dedicated to highlighting how to spot the signs and support someone who is feeling suicidal to prevent suicide. Every year organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide.

Each year has a different theme and focus, to bring to light a specific aspect of suicide prevention, this year it will take place on Seprember 10th and Coventry and Warwickshire Mind is showing our support as we do every year.

It also helps promote the mental health services available to ensure those in need of support always get the help they need. Figures from the World Health Organisation show a person dies every 40 seconds by suicide globally and many more make a suicide attempt.

We say one suicide is one suicide too many.

It Takes Balls to Talk

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind is a proud partner in the delivery of It Takes Balls To Talk, a mental health awareness campaign launched in Coventry and Warwickshire to encourage people, particularly men, to talk about how they feel. The campaign uses sporting themes and key messages to direct people to help and support, when they need it. Coventry and Warwickshire Mind and It Takes Balls to Talk are working together to ensure we are giving people the help they need when it comes to suicide.

National Suicide Prevention Alliance

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind is also a member of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance and we’ll be sharing their World Suicide Prevention Day messages on the day via our social media channels. The focus of their messages will be around 5 key areas:

  • Starting conversations
  • Taking time to listen
  • Creating supportive workplaces
  • Helping people find support
  • Supporting people bereaved by suicide

CW Mind events

Come and join us at our scheduled Suicide Prevention Day events across Coventry and Warwickshire. Take a look at the table below for details of our activities.

Mancetter

Event:   North Warwickshire Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-In
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on
looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Monday 9th September
Time:    9am-12noon
Venue:   Mancetter Memorial Hall, Old Farm Road, Mancetter, CV9 1QN
Event:   North Warwickshire Wellbeing Hub Outreach
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support  will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone
aged 16+
Date:   Thursday 12th September
Time:    9am-12noon
Venue:   Coleshill Town Hall, High Street Coleshill, Coleshill Town Hall, Birmingham B46 3BG
Event:   North Warwickshire Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-In
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on
looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Friday 13th September
Time:    1-4pm
Venue: Mancetter Memorial Hall, Old Farm Road, Mancetter, CV9 1QN

Coventry

Event:   Coventry Wellbeing Hub
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Shareexperiences and pick up tips on
looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Tuesday 10th September
Time:    1-5pm
Venue: Coventry Wellbeing Hub, Wellington Gardens, Windsor Street, Coventry CV1 3BT
Event:   Lower Precinct event
Why come along?   Raising awareness of CW Mind’s Children and Young People’s (CYP) services, CYP mental health, emotional wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Day. We will also have a tombola for members of the public to participate in.
Date:   Tuesday 10th September
Time:    9am – 5pm
Venue: Lower Precinct, Coventry city centre

Nuneaton

Event:   Nuneaton Wellbeing Hub Outreach
Why
come along?   		Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone aged 16+.
Date:   Monday 9th September
Time:    2-5pm
Venue:   Asda, Nuneaton
Event:   Nuneaton Wellbeing Hub Outreach
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone aged 16+.
Date:   Tuesday 10th September
Time:    1-4pm
Venue:   Ropewalk Shopping Centre, Nuneaton
Event:   Nuneaton Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-in
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Tuesday 10th September
Time:    5pm-8pm
Venue:   Nuneaton Wellbeing Hub, Newtown Chambers, Corporation Street, Nuneaton, CV11 5XR
Event: Nuneaton Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-in
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Thursday 12th September
Time:  5pm-8pm
Venue:   Nuneaton Wellbeing Hub, Newtown Chambers, Corporation Street, Nuneaton, CV11 5XR

Bedworth

Event: Bedworth Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-In
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Wednesday 11th September
Time:  5pm-8pm
Venue:   Bedworth Wellbeing Hub, CAB, 25 Congreve Walk, Bedworth, CV12 8LX
Event:   Bedworth Wellbeing Hub Outreach – Journey Bus
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support  will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone aged 16+.
Date:   Friday 13th September
Time    10am-3pm
Venue:   All Saints Square, Bedworth
Event:   Bedworth Wellbeing Hub Outreach – Journey Bus
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support  will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone aged 16+.
Date:   Friday 13th September
Time:    10am-3pm
Venue:   All Saints Square, Bedworth
Event:   Bedworth Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-in
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Friday 13th September
Time:    5pm-8pm
Venue: Bedworth Wellbeing Hub, CAB, 25 Congreve Walk, Bedworth, CV12 8LX

Rugby

Event: Rugby Wellbeing Hub Outreach – Journey Bus
Why
come along?   		Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support  will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone aged 16+
Date:   Tuesday 10th September
Time    10am-1pm
Venue:   Outside Rugby Art Gallery & Museum and Rugby Library
Event: Rugby Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-in
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Tuesday 10th September
Time:  1pm-4pm
Venue:   Rugby Wellbeing Hub, 28 Cromwell Road, Rugby CV22 5LY
Event: Rugby Wellbeing Hub Outreach
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Information on local services and support will be available, as well as Five Ways to Wellbeing information and support on mental health for anyone aged 16+.
Date:   Wednesday 11th September
Time:    8.30am-12.30pm  (8.30-10.30am – work coaches only, 10.30am-12.30pm – general public)
Venue:   DWP Jobs Fair/Market Place, Benn Hall, Newbold Rd, Rugby CV21 2LN
Event: Rugby Wellbeing Hub Peer Led Drop-in
Why come along?   Raising awareness of suicide prevention, with activities focussing on early warning signs, coping strategies and encouraging conversations. Share experiences and pick up tips on looking after your wellbeing.
Date:   Saturday 14th September
Time:  10am-1pm
Venue: Rugby Wellbeing Hub, 28 Cromwell Road, Rugby CV22 5LY

House Music Fest

Latest News

Nuneaton’s first indoor and outdoor House Party takes place at Griff and Coton Sports Club, Nuneaton, on Saturday 24th August 2019 from 12pm until late. It is a family friendly music festival and aims to bring the Nuneaton community together while raising funds and awareness for mental health. We are delighted the organisers have generously chosen to raise funds for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

In the day

There are two parts to this music event. During the day the fun will be outdoors with live DJs, craft stalls, DJ workshop, ariel hoop demonstration and raffle prizes. There will also be dance shows and entertainment indoors during the day. The price of entry is £3, under 12’s go free. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

In the evening

During the evening the House Party continues indoors with DJs playing from 6pm until late. Entry is free with your wristband from the day time or £5 on the door. For over 18s, ID is required.

More information

Come along and join the fun to help raise awareness and funds for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind through music.

For more information click this link.

Young Black Men

Homepage Slide, Latest News, Uncategorised

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind has received funding from Mind to develop a Young Black Men’s project. The Young Black Men’s project will target our services to young people between the ages of 11 and 30 years old who live across Coventry and Warwickshire and identify as being a young black man growing up in today’s society.

Why young black men?

We know that young black men (YBM) are one of the most overrepresented BME groups in inpatient mental health services and are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. YBM are also massively underrepresented in asking for help, speaking about mental health or seeking out services and we want to work to see this change.

Could you help?

The project needs a group of black men to help shape the future of the service, to help understand the things that impact on building better futures so that we can work to bring about positive change. We need YBM to help with promotions of the project as well as with delivering and leading the service.  We also need black parents, to help us understand what parents need, how they can support their YB boys and men. Together we can ensure that no-one goes through a mental health problem alone.

More information

For further information please contact Alethea on 024 7655 2847 or email alethea.balbuena@cwmind.org.uk

Family Fun Day

Latest News

You are invited to join us for a Family Fun Day in support of our Mums in Mind service.

Mums in Mind supports new and expectant mums, and the fun day takes place at Cooper’s Lodge in Coventry on September 14th, from 10am – 2pm, to raise funds and awareness of the service.

Here are some of the activities:

  • Live vocals from volunteers
  • A yoga demonstration
  • Raffle
  • Tombola
  • Face painting
  • Bouncy castle
  • Reptile display
  • Craft stalls
  • Refreshments
  • Games 

Come along and join the fun!

About Mums in Mind

Becoming pregnant or being a new mum is a life changing experience for any woman. Pregnancy and new motherhood is often imagined to be a time of great joy and happiness. However, the reality for many mums is often far from this. Mums in Mind are there to help pregnant women and mums to increase their social and support networks, improve their confidence and self-esteem, and to help improve their emotional wellbeing.

To find out more about Mums in Mind please visit https://cwmind.org.uk/mums-in-mind/

Thank You Supporters

Latest News, Uncategorised, Volunteering Stories

The phrase ‘thank you’ was said often as CW Mind staff, trustees, volunteers and supporters met to celebrate at the Butts Park Arena in Coventry in July 2019.

Earlier in the day, our staff had gathered for charity-wide staff conferences focused on wellbeing, and left hand written messages to say thank you for the work of our volunteers and supporters, including fundraisers and corporate partners. These were read by dozens of individuals at the evening Volunteers and Supporters celebration.

Displays were also created for each CW Mind service to illustrate the wide range of support our charity provides, from housing to training and children and young people’s services.

It was also lovely to hear from our keynote speaker, national Mind’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul Ward, who spoke glowingly of the contribution CW Mind makes to the Mind network of over 100 Local Minds and the important role of volunteers.

Did you know:

Coventry and Warwickshire Mind benefits from the hard work and support of

204

volunteers…

Who give an astonishing

25,000

hours of their time

A big thank you also goes to all who came along to our Volunteers & Supporters event, as well all at Butts Park Arena for helping us to host a brilliant day of activities for our staff and supporters.

Would you like to volunteer for CW Mind?

We have a range of opportunities. Just click this link to find out more.

Want to fundraise for us?

Find out how to get involved here or email fundraising@cwmind.org.uk

Summer Rural Offer

Latest News

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Bus travels Coventry and Warwickshire including, Nuneaton, Rugby, Bedworth and Mancetter.

And we are delighted to announce our new Rural Offer for the summer in which our bus will be heading out to more rural locations in support of Rise and our Children and Young peoples service to offer support and information.

While at these rural locations we will be running activities to take part in, including stress ball making, a wellbeing lucky dip with sweets and questions attached around mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Staff members will also be attending each event to offer support and information to young people and their families.

Dates and Locations

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Bus will be attending the following locations:

Saturday 3rd August, 12pm – 5pm – Dassett Country Show.

Tuesday 6th August. 10am – 2pm – Kingsbury Water Park car park.

Strictly for Mental Health

Fundraiser Events, Fundraising Events & Challenges, Homepage Slide, Latest News

Registrations have opened for next year’s Coventry Does Strictly 2020 in support of Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

A glitterball spinning £15,000 was raised earlier this year by amateurs and their professional dance partners for the mental health charity’s free to access local mental health services.

Now the show organisers are back with a mission to raise more funds for the Spon End-based charity which last year helped more than 27,000 people, a record number in its 50-year history.

Speaking of the event, Mark Jefferies, owner of Dancing Feet, Coventry, said:

“Dancing Feet, Coventry has been running Coventry Does Strictly for almost 10 years and in that time we have raised over £150,000 for local Coventry and Warwickshire charities.  We are very proud of these achievements and look forward to next year’s show on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May 2020 raising funds for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind. Let’s make this bigger than ever.”

Mark Jefferies

Fourteen dancing couples took part in May 2019 in two glitzy evening performances at Citrus Hotel in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, to entertain audiences with their fancy footwork. Coventry and Warwickshire Mind calls on novice dancers across the region to get involved in this memorable experience, which is a great way to get active, meet new people and enhance mental wellbeing.

Jade Clarke, Coventry and Warwickshire Mind’s Business Development Lead, said:

“It was pleasure to work with Dancing Feet Coventry on Coventry Does Strictly 2019. We were impressed by the standard of the performances and overwhelmed by the fundraising total over the two days. This money is already making an amazing difference to many people here in Coventry and Warwickshire.

“We are delighted Dancing Feet Coventry is supporting us again next year and are already excited for Coventry Does Strictly 2020 which we hope will be well supported again. Coventry and Warwickshire Mind is helping more people than ever and we hope to raise more money than before.”

Get involved

Anyone who would like to learn a Cha Cha Cha and Quickstep and help to raise funds for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind should contact Mark Jefferies by emailing jefferiesmark1@sky.com for more information and a registration form.

Nitin Skydives for CW Mind

Fundraising Events & Challenges, Latest News

A huge thank you to Nitin who took part in a charity skydive recently to raise funds for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind. He was happy to share his experience with us. Here is what he say as he wrote to show his appreciation to all his supporters who helped him raise a brilliant £1,165 for our services:

“I am very excited and relieved to let you know that on Saturday 15th June 2019, I completed my 10,000ft Tandem Skydive for the Coventry and Warwickshire Mind charity. I have to tell you, in the days prior to the skydive, the nerves were ridiculous!

“The experience of that morning, starting with the expert information from the instructors, to being pretty much petrified in the plane, to the exhilarating feeling of flying, and ending with the sense of total love for the flat ground beneath me, will be hard to forget. This skydive was something that I never thought that I was capable of doing –  your well wishes, good luck messages and the useful tips were all greatly appreciated, and helped me to keep focused in carrying out this challenge – THANK YOU!

“I am still totally overwhelmed by your efforts of generosity – the aim was to raise £650.00, but together we raised £1,165.00 – we smashed it! Your kind donations will go directly to the Coventry and Warwickshire Mind charity. The aim of this charity is to offer help, support and guidance to us, when our mental health is not balanced. If you would like to know more about the charity, please click on the link below: https://cwmind.org.uk/

Well done on your achievement, Nitin!

Mayor of Rugby Donation

Latest News, Rugby

We were delighted to welcome Cllr Tom Mahoney to our Wellbeing Hub in Rugby as he presented CW Mind with a £5,264.28 cheque raised during his time as Mayor.

The money donated by Cllr Mahoney was generated during his term of office as he had chosen Coventry and Warwickshire Mind as one of his charities of the year. A quiz night and Mayor’s Ball were among his fundraising activities that helped towards the total.

Cllr Mahoney visited our Hub in Cromwell Road on May 14 and met volunteers, clients and staff at the drop-in session during Mental Health Awareness Week as one of his final duties as Mayor of Rugby.

Fiona Palmer, Rugby Wellbeing Hub manager, said:

“I would really like to thank Cllr Tom Mahoney for his support of us throughout his year as Mayor of Rugby.  We are incredibly grateful for the money he has raised and it will make a huge difference to the people we help here in Rugby. His support means more than the money he has raised, as I feel the Wellbeing Hub has made a real friend, a friendship which will last beyond his term of office. He is welcome to visit us any time.”

Fiona Palmer, Rugby Wellbeing Hub manager
1 2 3 4