News
Delight
as wellbeing project finds new home A VITAL mental health and wellbeing
project has found a new home at Brynmawr Community Centre, securing the future
of the service and the building. When the Phoenix Project revealed it
needed to find new premises for its daily drop-in clinic, Blaenau Gwent
Council’s Social Services and Leisure Services worked together to present a
solution. From June the project will hold its
drop-in sessions at the centre five days a week. The project and drop-in service
offers people in Blaenau Gwent the opportunity to obtain advice, guidance and
support in relation to their mental health and wellbeing and also the chance to
take part in meaningful activities, social activities and therapeutic group
sessions. Councillor John Rogers, Blaenau
Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Social Services, said: “The Phoenix
Project has gone from strength-to-strength in the local community with more
than 300 people a month now using the drop-in service. When we heard the
project may have to find a new home we stepped in to help them look as we
didn’t want people using the service to become stressed and anxious about what
may happen. Now our service users are happy and can’t wait to see the new
home.” Councillor Jason Owen, Blaenau Gwent
Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, said: “This is partnership working at
its best. “The people of Brynmawr really
didn’t want to lose their community centre which has become a hub for community
use. We are delighted to be teaming up with Social Services to help secure a
viable future for the community centre so it will continue to be part of
activities in Brynmawr.”
Visit Leads to Tea and Big Slices of Cake!
During the national “Life Begins at Home Week”, a local Assembly Member helped Torfaen MIND celebrate 10 years of its residential supported housing services throughout Wales.
Michael German, who represents Torfaen in the National Assembly for Wales, visited a support house where residents receive round the clock support that is tailored to the individual to help people back to a full recovery after a period of trauma or distress. MIND currently is the largest provider in the borough of counselling services, support and residential care and currently is helping around 500 people in the area.
Residents at the supported house enjoyed cups of tea and big slices of a special 10th anniversary cake.
Mr. German said, “Torfaen MIND is providing a wide range of support and treatment facilities that really helps people get back to full health and reclaim their lives after a period of illness.”
The Assembly Member was particularly impressed with the all round care and support available for people, saying that the approach used was an example of best practice: “The approach is an holistic one: not just treating mental illness, but providing a programme for general health and wellbeing.”
Bernie Davies, Director of MIND Torfaen said: “Over the past 10 years we have been able to support approximately 45 individuals who have developed daily living skills and been supported to manage their mental health to enable more independent living. This is thanks to the dedication of the support staff and the strong partnership in funding between WAG, Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board and the local authority."
Mr. German added, “People at the house told me that they find the place warm, friendly and supportive. One resident told me that the support helped her to become independent again.
“One resident told me that previously they couldn’t even manage to go out of the house but they she is able to walk about every day. Another told me that he had got their ‘freedom back’. This just sums it up for me. Mental distress and illness is an area of medical treatment that is undervalued and still to some extent ‘taboo’.
“MIND are breaking down barriers for people to enjoy a full recovery and helping to demolish the wall of misunderstanding and ignorance of mental health issues brick by brick.”
Letter of appreciation from The Assistant Director of Clinical Governance of 2gether NHS Foundation Trust
