Creating a directory for Redditch

HELP is at hand for Redditch residents wanting to try something new thanks to the creation of a wellbeing directory.

Leaders of the Jigsaw Project, run by the Redditch Mental Health Action Group and Yum Tum Club, are currently putting together the directory with the aim of printing it later this year.

It is then hoped funding can be secured to enable the resource to be updated annually.

The six themes of the Jigsaw Project – which aims to bring together all the aspects of health and wellbeing – are mental health, physical health, food, creativity, community and relationships.

Anything which fits into one or more of the categories, from a friendship group for older people or a sports club to musical offerings and educational courses, can be included in the directory.

Fay Yeng from the Jigsaw Project said: “We want to try and capture as much information as possible about what’s going on in Redditch, so residents can pick up a copy and find something which will not only appeal to them but also enhance their wellbeing.

“In the coming months we will be contacting as many organisations as possible to get information about their courses, activities and meetings to include in the directory. But we would also like to hear from anyone who thinks their group’s information should be in there.”

As well as creating the directory, the Jigsaw Project is all about bringing together the community to promote the good things which happen in Redditch.

Fay added: “We are building a network of support who feel they need a little lift, something to do or a friend. If we unite together we can provide hope to people who feel they need some help, whether it be enabling them to join a group they did not know about previously or access a service which could give them hope for the future.

“It is all about improving the ‘mental wealth’ of the town’s residents – after all, one in four people experience a mental health issue in any one year and everyone has stresses in their life, so we believe Jigsaw can make a real difference.”

To be featured in the directory, all that is needed is the name and short description of the activity, location, dates and times plus a contact name and number. E-mail the information to redditchmhag@gmail.com or call 07788 379389.

Like us over on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to join the growing online Jigsaw community, find out about upcoming events or post about your own.

What's happening at our Easter Monday community barbecue?

It's just a week now until the community barbecue at the Old Needleworks and there's lots of work going on behind the scenes to ensure the event is a success.

So far confirmed we have the food obviously (it will all be food which boosts your mood and makes you feel fab, so hopefully you'll go home with some new recipes ideas!), drumming, a children's dance workshop, the labyrinth (which was funded by MHAG last year), the opportunity to watch jewellery being made plus some opportunities to get creative and think about your own 'mental wealth'.

To give you even more information, here's a copy of the press release we've sent out to the papers today:

 

VOLUNTEERS are hoping their event will sizzle as they host a barbecue with a difference to promote the power of community spirit.
Yum Tum Club and the Redditch Mental Health Action Group have joined forces to create the Jigsaw Project, aimed at getting more organisations working together in Redditch for the benefit of residents' health.
The project is set to highlight activities, courses and meetings on social media, as well as creating a printed directory later this year to inform residents what is going on within the town.
To launch the Jigsaw, a community barbecue will run from 12pm to 3pm on Easter Monday (March 28) at the Old Needleworks on Britten Street. Anyone is welcome to the free event, with representatives from any organisation invited to bring along leaflets or other information to share.
A holistic approach to wellbeing will be promoted by encouraging guests to get involved in activities such as drumming, a children's dance workshop and other 'feel good' activities, with the food being slightly different from normal barbecue food in that the menu has been designed to promote 'improving your food mood' acknowledging the link between eating and mental health.
Fay Yeng from Yum Tum Club said: "The idea of the Jigsaw Project is to bring people together, so what better way to launch it than to host a 'happy food' barbecue creating a platform to talk freely about 'mental wealth'.
"During the project, we hope to show how all aspects of health including mental health and healthy eating fit together like a jigsaw to form an overall picture."
The event has been funded thanks a Redditch Borough Council grant awarded to co-organiser Sue Yeng and there will be opportunities to donate to MHAG or the Jigsaw Project during the day.
To find out more, e-mail redditchmhag@gmail.com or call 07788 379389. Find the project by searching 'The Jigsaw Project' on Facebook or @redditchjigsaw on Twitter. 

Community barbecue

If you've read our last post (here), you'll know the Jigsaw Project is now up and running. To celebrate, we're hosting a community barbecue on Easter Monday. Do come along if you want to try some food, perhaps some activities and have a chat! Let your friends, colleagues and family know and feel free to bring along information about any groups, activities, courses or events you're running.

 

 

The Jigsaw Project

If you've been around at MHAG meetings or on social media/e-mails, you may have heard us talking about the Jigsaw Project. The good news is it is now firmly up and running (it's been going on in the background but we're really giving it a push now!) but what is it?

 

Who's involved?

The Jigsaw Project is the brainchild of Harriet from MHAG and Fay from Yum Tum who wanted to find a way of combining their passions for mental health and food!

 

What is it?

It's a project aimed at engaging everyone in the community and promoting what's already going on and anything new which starts up. The idea behind the name is that all aspects of community and health slot together in a 'jigsaw' - so healthy eating, mental health etc. Whether it's a one-off activity, a group which meets every week or a course, share it with us and we'll share it with everyone. We're sharing what's going on through social media but any longer-term projects will also be promoted through a printed directory to be distributed across the town.

 

How do we get in touch?

E-mail us via at redditchmhag@gmail.com

Call Harriet on 07788 379389

Like 'The Jigsaw Project' on Facebook and message us or get sharing your group/activity on our wall.

 

Anything else?

There will be events associated with the Jigsaw Project going on within Redditch so keep an eye out for more details on those!

 

Thanks,

Harriet and Fay

Merry Christmas!

I'm now taking off a few days over Christmas to recharge my batteries and get ready for all 2015 has in store! I'm very excited about the possibilities in the coming year and where we could be by the time Christmas 2015 approaches. In the meantime I'd like to send each and every one of you warm wishes - although life with a mental health issue is never easy and can be particularly tough over what is meant to be the 'most wonderful time of the year', I hope all of you find the strength to make it through and that with the help of all the fantastic organisations who work within Redditch, a stable, supported and perhaps even enjoyable 2015 is in store for all of you.

 

 

 

For now, I'll leave you with a few dates for your diary:

 

January 7 - Care Quality Commission drop in session to share experiences of using the Worcestershire Health and Care Trust. Town Hall. 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Please contact

admin@healthwatchworcestershire.co.uk or 01386 550264 to book a place.

January 20 - Jigsaw project initial meetings with interested organisations. Town Hall. 1pm or 7pm.

January 29 - MHAG monthly meeting. Town Hall. 7pm.

February 26 - MHAG monthly meeting. As before.

February 27 - joint MHAG and Macmillan Cancer Support quiz. Town Hall. 7pm. Contact us for £2 tickets.

March 14 - Spring Fling ball at Studley Castle.

 

Every MHAG monthly meeting will be on the last Thursday of a month other than March when it will be the 19th and December when it will be the 17th.

The Mask

Don't be fooled by me
Don't be fooled by the face I wear,
for I wear a thousand masks,
masks that I'm afraid to take off,
and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art which is second nature to me -
but don't be fooled, for God's sake don't be fooled.

I give the impression that I'm secure, sunny and unruffled,
within as well as without,
that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water's calm and I'm in command, and that I need no-one.

But don't believe me. Please.

That surface may seem smooth,
but my surface is my mask.
Beneath this lies no complacency.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion,
in fear and aloneness.

But I hide this. I don't want anyone to know it.

I panic at the thought of my weakness and fear of being exposed.
That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
a nonchalant, sophisticated facade to help me to pretend,
to shield me from the glance that knows.

But such a glance is precisely my salvation,
my only salvation, and I know it - that is,
if it is followed by acceptance,
if it is followed by Love;

it is the only thing which will assure me
of what I can't assure myself -
that I'm worth something.

But I don't tell you this. I don't dare, I'm afraid to - afraid your glance will not
be followed by acceptance, will not be followed by Love.

I'm afraid that you will think less of me,
that you will laugh at me,
and your laugh would kill me!
I'm afraid that deep down I'm nothing, that I'm no good,
and that you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate game,
with a facade of assurance without,
and a trembling child within.

And so begins the parade of masks. And my life becomes a front.

I chatter idly to you of superficialities.
I tell you everything that is really nothing,
and nothing of what is everything -
of what is crying within me.

So when I'm going through my routine,
do not be fooled by what I'm saying,
what I'd like to be able to say,
what, for survival, need to say but can't.

I dislike hiding - honestly! I dislike the phoney game I'm playing.

I'd really like to be genuine and spontaneous and me.
You've got to hold out your hand
even when that is the last thing that I seem to want.

Only you can wipe away from my eyes the blank stare of breathing death.
only you can call me to aliveness.

Each time you are kind and gentle and encouraging,
each time you try to understand because you really care,
my heart begins to grow wings,
very small wings,
very feeble wings,
but wings!

With your sensitivity and sympathy and your power of understanding
you can breathe life into me.

I want you to know that. I want you to know how important you are to me, how

You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble.
You alone can remove my mask.
You alone can release me from my shadow-world of panic and uncertainty,
from my lonely person.

Do not pass me by.
Please do not pass me by.
It will not be easy for you.

A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The more closely you approach me, the more blindly I strike back.

But I am told that love is stronger than walls,
and in this lies my hope.
Please try to beat down those walls with firm hands
but with gentle hands...for a child is very sensitive.

Who am I, you may wonder?
I am someone you know very well,
for I am every man that you meet,
and I am every woman that you meet.

Chair's welcome for our poetry night

I'd like to talk to you all about a subject close to my heart

No one was looking at mental health so we made a start

We wanted to bring it up as an important topic

Because when people ignore it, that's what gets on our wick

We held a meeting last May to see who would come

And since then we've done loads of work and had lots of fun

Fundraising's our aim to bring services to the town

And driving the stigma around it right down

We believe mental health is on a par with the physical stuff

And those who cope with illnesses are really quite tough

It's hard to find doctors who help and can seem like a task

We want there to be services out there when people ask

Thanks for coming to listen to a few poems tonight

We hope you'll think about donating to make the future bright

If you want to come along and get involved in MHAG

There's a monthly meeting, you won't find it a drag

In between we go to lots of different places

So you might think you've already seen our faces

If you want more information please come and find me

Or Beccy Blake who's my right hand lady

For now I'll end this poem and say goodnight

Because some of my rhymes are really quite shi...

Our jigsaw project

We are currently in the process of speaking to people about a jigsaw project we hope to launch in 2015. We're inviting all organisations in Redditch to register their interest in the project and then we'll get everyone together to start organising it.

Aim:

The aim of the project is to focus on all of the aspects which together make up a person's quality of life including their mental and physical health, by looking at three aspects: how they can keep themselves happy and well, how they can help a friend and how they can help the community. Through this project, we hope to engage as many people as possible within Redditch to take part in at least one activity which will promote not only the specific aims of the project but also those of the organisations taking part from the voluntary and community sector.

How it will work:

Participants will work towards being 'Health Smart' by collecting pieces of a jigsaw, which together will make up an entire body. The jigsaw is made up of six pieces, which each represent a part of happiness/quality of life: the head (mental health), chest (heart health ie looking after friends and family), stomach (food), left arm (community), right arm (creativity) and legs (physical health).

There will be a number of sessions and activities run from the start of 2015 right through to Wellbeing Week in October which will focus specifically on one aspect of the jigsaw – for example comedy, writing or sewing sessions for creativity, making and preparing meals for food or sport for physical health. Once a person has attended one of the sessions, they will be given the corresponding jigsaw piece and it is hoped people will work towards attending six sessions throughout the year and thus being able to complete the jigsaw.

Organisation:

The project will bring together a consortium of organisations, mostly from the voluntary and community sector, who will put forward one leader for each of the six identified health factors (mental health, heart health, food, community, creativity and physical health). Each of the six leaders will be responsible for putting together a programme of activities leading up to October next year, liaising with as many relevant other organisations as possible and in encouraging people to join in and collect the jigsaw piece which matches their factor.

As a whole, the consortium members will also be responsible for promoting the project as widely as they can through the media, existing contact lists, liaising with the public and private sectors and promoting it at any events they host or attend.

Mission statement:

To engage and unite as many different groups and individuals within Redditch in a project to celebrate all aspects of health and wellbeing incorporating mental health, heart health, food, community, creativity and physical health. By giving thanks for positive factors within their lives, encouraging them to think about how they can improve less positive aspects of their emotional or physical health and by focusing not only on self-health but also the health of other people and the community as a whole, this will spread awareness of the different aspects which come together to improve their quality of life.

What are the issues and what are the solutions we are offering?:

Lack of awareness about the meaning of words such as mental health and wellbeing

• Sessions which will specifically inform people about the meanings, solutions to work towards better mental health and wellbeing.
• A visual representation (with the jigsaw) of what exactly incorporates health.
• A chance to learn more about aspects of health which they may not be familiar with.

A perceived lack of input from statutory services surrounding lower level mental health issues (ie they don't step in until the situation has reached crisis point

• Opportunities to meet people in similar situations, engage in positive activities and form new groups.
• Information and signposting towards relevant services which could assist.
• A chance for those struggling and the people who are looking after them to 'have a break' away from the issues faced.

There are so many organisations within the voluntary sector, often they are unaware exactly what is going on with other groups

• Closer working opportunities between all of the groups within the Redditch voluntary sector.
• The chance for groups to join together to offer activities, thus increasing the time and potentially the funding available for them, as well as the number of volunteers able to help.

Often the focus with mental health is on the negative aspects, such as the problems within the statutory services

• Turning the focus around so it is on positive activities being provided in Redditch.
• Giving people the chance to talk to others about what helped them when they were facing issues.
• Giving people a wide variety of activities to take part in, for example: sport, writing, cooking etc.

Pledging to do better

I was absolutely delighted when Ian Dipple, the editor of the Redditch Standard (where I work alongside running MHAG), came to me and told me his idea about doing some extensive coverage of mental health to mark World Mental Health Day. As well as telling my own story, we managed to get mayor Pat Witherspoon, council chief exec Kevin Dicks, Dr Tim Lee and various others involved to speak up about the topic. It makes me very proud to work for the paper and to live in the town to see people supporting mental health! As part of the edition, we launched a pledge - we're asking residents and organisations to sign it. One voice is not often heard but if we can get enough voices (and names) then maybe together we can affect the change which is so desperately needed.

To take part, I can e-mail you a copy of the pledge (call me on 07788 379389 or e-mail redditchmhag@gmail.com) or simply save the copy below and send it back to me c/o Redditch Standard, Webb House, Church Green East, Redditch, B98 8RA.

Harriet

Rhyming for a good reason

This week saw us host our second ever Wellbeing Week in Redditch, something we're keen to do every October to mark World Mental Health Day. The first event was a poetry evening at the Redi Centre - we wanted to demonstrate how getting creative can boost your mental health and also show how much talent we have in this town!

 

 

A huge ten people were lined up on the bill to share either their own poems or someone else's - some were on the theme of mental health and some weren't, but the majority were actually written by a Redditch resident. Thanks to our readers: Mark, Rebecca, Ismat, Vanessa, Lyn, Andy, Natalie, Shayan and Pat (the tenth was myself in case you're keeping count!)

 

 

A few extra thanks to Pat Witherspoon, the mayor, for her support of the event, Ray and Margaret for agreeing to host the event in their building, Jan and Andy for their help with organising (Jan and Margaret also made the most delicious cakes which everyone enjoyed), Boon for compering for us, Sally for playing the dulcimer and anyone else who helped in any way.

 

 

It was a hugely enjoyable night, we had at least half a dozen extra readers in the open mic part of the evening and hopefully everyone went away as content and full of cake as I did! We also raised £150 which will go towards mental health projects in the borough.

 

Keep an eye out on Facebook/Twitter in the coming weeks as I'll be posting up some of the poems.

 

Harriet.

What we've done and what's coming up!

Fear not, things with MHAG have been carrying on with our monthly meetings continuing and many great chats about mental health. This blog however I have let slide a little due to not being very well and a brief stay in hospital. I am back on track now and more focused than ever to push MHAG as far as we can and affect change in Redditch. It is desperately needed and wanted!

So some of the things which have been going on:
- We were made the mayor's charity! Pat Witherspoon picked MHAG and Redditch Friends Together as her two charities to help highlight mental health and dementia within the town. Thanks Pat! She's in office until May so plenty of exciting events will be coming up.
- We laughed! Pat hosted a comedy night called Ship Of Fools which was absolutely brilliant. There were five comedians plus compere Ant Hill (thanks to Ant for all his work to make it a success!). Lots of money raised and lots of laughs too.
- We talked! We've spoken to Dr Tim Lee, who's the lead for mental health on Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group's governing body, about their plans for the future as well as Helen Broughton from the strategic partnership about the work their mental health committee is doing and Homestart about their services to help people with postnatal depression.
- We visited! We went to events including the Bandstand Festival and Astwood Bank Carnival. It's great to bring mental health to the masses at places like that.

Wellbeing Week:
- Our first event is a poetry evening next Tuesday (October 7) at 7.30pm at the Redi Centre. We're hoping to highlight how getting creative and either reading or creating poetry can help with your mental health. Come along and join us - it's free but donations are welcome!

- Advice shop. As with last year we'll be hosting a two-day advice shop in the Kingfisher Centre. We're outside Primark (by the escalators) all day next Friday and Saturday (October 10 and 11) and we've got plenty of activities, crafts, puzzles, food making etc! Do pop along.

There are also lots of exciting projects in the pipeline and next week with the help of the Redditch Standard (my day job!) we'll be marking World Mental Health Day with the launch of a new pledge for the town.

Harriet.

Update from the chair: February 2014

February has been a fairly busy month for MHAG, starting off on the 1st with some of the group attending the LGBT event at Redditch Library - having a table at events like this is something we are very keen to do as it enables us to speak to people who either may need to access mental health services but need pointing in the right direction or to those who might be interested in getting on board with MHAG and campaigning for better services. All in all, it was a great networking opportunity for us.

The following week we met with representatives from Redditch Borough Council and the Redditch Community Amateur Boxing Club - the former was to find out more about the events they are hosting throughout the summer. We should have a packed schedule with these events plus our own we are hoping to organise. The latter was to hear more about a new project they're hoping to launch and we have a representative coming to our meeting tomorrow to share some more information about that.

On the 7th, we held our Valentine's Ball which was a great event and saw us raising nearly £500 to add to the funds we started gathering last year. We're really hoping to hit our £5,000 target soon and hopefully the combined efforts of these fund-raising events and our Three Peaks challenge will get us much nearer that total!

We've also met with Jestaminute who have some great ideas about Wellbeing Week (to be revealed at our March MHAG) and some of our members have been busy putting together proposals for a mentoring project - the pilot of which should be ready to launch soon.

To round the month off, we have a representative of the Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group coming to talk to us tomorrow at our monthly meeting which will be followed by a talk from some people who've completed the Three Peaks challenge who'll be sharing some top tips.

Harriet.

Valentine's Ball

Friday saw us all donning our black, white and red outfits for Redditch MHAG's first Valentine's Ball. The idea of the event was to embrace the wider meaning of the word 'love' - focusing not just on romantic partnerships but also the community and self-esteem which can be key parts of people's mental health and wellbeing.

The event raised nearly £500 which will be used to fund projects in Redditch. We would like to say a massive thank you to all of the staff at Studley Castle, especially Rachel. It was a great venue for the event with a fantastic team who worked hard to ensure it all went smoothly. Also a massive thanks to David, Helen, Sarah, Lee, Elaine, Mary, Mark, Rob, Lisa and Rebecca for pulling together the event and to DJ Miles and photographer Katie.

We had representatives from Samaritans, Early Help, Sandycroft, Mentor Link and Jestaminute there as well as individuals who came to support us. Thank you again to all those who helped to make it a success.

All pictures by Katie Lester - please contact us for her details.