Richmond Fellowship program, January

Here is the Richmond Fellowship day service program of events in Thanet for January, and also their January Newsletter. (apologies - this document got somewhat scrambled and has now been corrected)

Note their new address, which is:

17 St Johns Road,
Margate, Kent
CT9 1LU

The telephone number remains the same, 01843 280022

Befriending Scheme - Chiristmas and New Year Events

Click here to download SpeakupCIC's Befriending Scheme diary of events over the holiday season.

SpeakupCIC Befriending Scheme group activities

Apologies for the late posting of this item. Here are the Befriending Scheme activities for December.

Richmond Fellowship program, December

Apologies for the late posting of this information. Here is the Richmond Fellowship day service program of events in Thanet for December, and also their December Newsletter.

Note also their new address, which is:

17 St Johns Road,
Margate, Kent
CT9 1LU

The telephone number remains the same, 01843 280022

Healthy Mind Courses

KCA Psychological Therapy Providers (PTP) have recently put together a new pilot offering healthy mind courses for people experiencing low mood, anxiety and low self esteem. The courses start in December and are free of charge to participants wanting to attend.

The dates, times and facilitators of each of the workshops are as follows:

Low Self-esteem with Joana Johnson
7 & 14 December, 10am - 12pm

Low Mood with Catherine Chatwin
6 & 13 December, 1pm - 3pm

Stress and Anxiety with Adam Cooney
8 & 15 December, 2pm - 4pm

All referrals can be sent through to the KCA office in Ramsgate below, or individuals can just call the service and make a self-referral over the phone.

KCA PTP
38 Westcliffe Rd
Ramsgate
Kent
CT11 9NT

01843 593832
 

The Power of Telling my Story

Help others learn from your experiences

Help services learn how to improve

A two day workshop for those who have a lived experience of mental health challenges. Those of us who have mental health challenges are strong, worthwhile people who have a story to tell which can encourage us, and those who hear it.

This two day practical workshop, led by trainers from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, will cover:

• Recovery in mental health
• The recovery journey that we are all making
• The vital role and positive impact of ‘telling our story’
• The skills of story telling
• Opportunities for sharing our story to help further improve services

Building on your strengths and increasing confidence the course will equip you to tell your own recovery story; helping you to see the hero that you are.

Dates: 24th & 25th Nov, 2011  
Venue: Westgate Hall, Westgate Hall Road Canterbury. CT1 2BT 
Time: 9.30 - 4.45 each day

Travel expenses will be reimbursed and lunch and refreshments provided. For further information, or to apply to join this training please call or email Nick on 01227 81202

Richmond Fellowship program, November

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for November, and also their November Newsletter.

Disability Network Event

Has your disability been holding you back from securing employment?
Do you feel that you have some great skills going to waste?
Are you worried about how the new Incapacity Benefit Law will affect you?

Then the Disability Network Event is for you!

Come along and find out what support is there for you. Meet the organisations and service providers that are available to support and help you in your search for employment opportunities.

Join us
Friday 28 October 2011 - 1.30 pm - 3.30pm
at
St George’s C of E Foundation School
Westwood Road
Broadstairs CT10 2LH

SpeakupCIC celebrates World Mental Health Day, 10 October

10 October 2011 was World Mental Health Day, a yearly event celebrated around the world. It is the biggest day in the calendar for mental health. One-in-four people around the world will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives. It is a time to remember that mental health and physical health go hand in hand. Good Mental Health and physical exercise can make a big difference to our wellbeing. This is why organisations such as SpeakupCIC organise regular activities for local people, working to end the stigma and discrimination often directed towards people with mental health issues.

This year, on Wednesday 12th October, Speakup CIC organised a fun walk by the sea. After a photo shoot and briefing, groups of people set out to walk along the promenade, marching in solidarity to show that mental ill health sufferers are like anyone else – in fact one in four, as Ruby Wax famously advertises for our cause. The weather was lovely and the group of 20 or so people united in a common cause could be seen making its way along the promenade to St Mildred’s Bay for a well-earned cup of tea and chat.

Speakup CIC (formerly Rethink East Kent User Forum) is a community interest company which aims to provide support, information and to give a voice to mental health service users in Thanet Dover Deal and Ashford. For more information about the organisation call 01843 609359 or visit the website http://www.speakupcic.co.uk/

Carer Support Groups

Rethink Mental Illness have a Carer Support Group every 1st Wednesday of the month at


The Beacon, Ramsgate

2pm - 3:30pm

and on the 1st Friday of the month at


Durham House, Herne Bay
2pm -  3:15pm




All carers are welcome.


The aim of the Support meetings is to facilitate networking of Carers in the area to encourage mutual support. Carers meet up in an informal environment and the group gives them the chance to discuss their roles and experiences within their Carer role. The Carer Groups are an effective tool in preventing isolation and promoting social inclusion.

Carer Groups provide support via publications, personal experiences and, on occasions, speakers are invited to attend to discuss a variety of areas that you may find useful within your caring role. The Carer Groups have proved to be highly effective and feedback has been very positive.

Investing in Mental Health

Social Enterprise Kent are hosting this informative seminar which will be looking at Investing in Mental Health, the theme for this year's World Mental Health Day.  Speakers include:

Peter Lake - KCC Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Lynn Marchant - Mindful Employment
Frances Beaumont - Dyspraxia UK.

There will also be case studies from Employment Services.

When: 10th October
Time: 9.30 until midday
Venue:Kent Enterprise House in Herne Bay
Cost: Free of Charge

To reserve your place, call 01227 844544.

SpeakupCIC Befriending Scheme group activities

SpeakupCIC have published their befriending scheme activities for October, available here.

World Mental Health Day 2011

No Health Without Mental Health! Mental Health is everyone’s business.

Speakupcic welcomes you all to join us on a walk of solidarity to show that we are committed to ending stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health issues.

Join us on Wednesday 12th October at 1.00 pm meeting at Margate Clock tower finishing at St Mildred’s Bay for a well-earned cup of tea and chat.

Good Mental Health and physical exercise can make a big difference to our wellbeing. A fun walk by the sea will leave you feeling refreshed, energised and ready to tackle stigma wherever you meet it.

Richmond Fellowship program, October

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for October, and also their October Newsletter.

speakupCIC Befriending Scheme activites

speakupCIC (formerly East Kent User Forum) have published their befriending scheme activities for September, available here. Apologies for the late posting of this schedule.

Richmond Fellowship program, September

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for August, and also their September Newsletter.

A report on Speakup CIC's LGBT Forum trip to Brighton Pride

Speakup CIC LGBT Forum trip to Brighton Pride - Saturday 13 August 2011
by Ian Carter-Chapman – Director for Speakup CIC

There are days which you'd gladly relive all over again, and Saturday was most certainly one of them.  The omens weren't good as rain fell from overcast skies as the Gay Forum boarded a commodious coach around Thanet before hitting the motorways in the direction of our destination - Brighton!

By the time we reached the flower bed with its floral "welcome" letters at the entrance to the city-by-the-sea, the rain had given way to blue skies and sunshine was illuminating the streets that were beginning to fill with hundreds of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans (LGBT) folk, their families, friends and supporters, and from our chosen spot opposite the former Astoria Cinema, we were in a prime position to enjoy a front row view of what was to follow - the Pride Parade.

Cosmopolitan Brighton has a very large LGBT population, and nineteen years ago, Pride in its present form began as a reaction to the Government's Section 28 legislation, which prohibited the so-called promotion of homosexuality in schools, etc.  Awarded charitable status in 2004, the organisation promotes equality and diversity, and aims to advance education to eliminate discrimination against the LGBT community, as well as award financial grants towards other charitable and voluntary groups working with LGBT people.

The annual summer parade and festival is really the culmination of their work, and when the parade takes to the streets, it literally stops the traffic.  Excitement and cheers filled the air as hundreds passed us by on spectacularly decorated floats; pedestrians in glitzy, breathtaking attire (or lack of it!), LGBT police officers and other public service workers, "out and proud" in their uniforms; and our friends at Mind Out (Brighton's LGBT mental health group) on a vintage double deck bus.  The theme for this year's parade, chosen by a local gay bar, was "Out of this World" - and it really was!

We followed the rainbow procession up to Preston Park, where we joined the already-lengthy queues to gain entry to the festival event.  It really was worth the wait, with entertainment aplenty, and we could choose to visit the many community and commercial stalls, defy gravity at the funfair, boogie in the massive dance tent, be entertained in the cabaret or women's performance tent , or simply sit on the grass in the sunshine and lap up the glorious atmosphere.  At some point, we all found our way to the oasis of peace in the Access Tent, thoughtfully provided by the Federation of Disabled Persons, where we could chill out before heading back into the throngs.

For me, the highlight of Brighton Pride was seeing veteran drag star Maisie Trollett take to the stage.  Now in his late 70's, her alter ego David Raven has entertained at each Brighton Pride, and yet the raptous reception to his appearance remains undiminshed - Brighton loves "their" Maisie and he loves them!  For some, it was seeing chart-topping pop favourite Alexandre Burke live and in person on the main stage, where the huge crowd had joined 80's legend Sonia in singing out "I Am What I Am" earlier in the day.  For others, it was just being there, among so many other LGBT people, where you felt in the majority for once, far from being "the only gay in the village" to coin a catchphrase.  And bearing in mind that there are still inequalities - such as no gay marriage, for example - homophobia and assaults sadly remain a part of LGBT life and, especially relevant to our group, high suicide rates within the LGBT community, days like this are empowering, uplifting and life affirming.  The posters advertising Brighton Pride proclaimed it "a celebration of LGBT lives" - it certainly was all that and more.

And so, in the words of the song, it was "time to say goodbye" to Brighton Pride 2011, and we headed for home.  A huge thank you from us all to Maggie and Amanda for all their hard work and perseverance in overcoming the hiccups enroute to this special trip; to Porchlight for generously hiring us such comfortable transport; to Chris and Carol Peters Travel for making our journey such a safe and pleasant one; to Brighton Pride for their kind donation of entrance wristbands, making it accessible to those of us on benefits; and to everyone involved with Pride in Brighton and Hove for the hours of hard work in organising and undertaking such an incredible event.

Twenty years ago this year, I "came out" as a gay man.  Twenty one years ago, I was seriously considering suicide as I couldn't cope with my depression, anxiety and breakdowns, and with being gay.  Saturday's trip made me glad I stayed.

Wimbledon House Summer Fair

Wimbledon House in Herne Bay will be holding their Summer Fair on Wednesday 24 August, from 2 - 4:30 pm at

Wimbledon House
58 Selsea Avenue
Herne Bay CT6 8SD

Raffle - Tombola - Hook a Duck - Guess the Sweets in the Jar - Bric a Brac - Jumble - Books – Puzzles
Cake Stall - Wet Sponge Stand - BBQ - Refreshments

Bert Butlers Jazz Pilgrims will be entertaining throughout the afternoon.

See the flyer here.

Secret Thoughts and Time to Talk

Rethink announce an event for the Time to Talk campaign at the Secret Gardens in Sandwich (also know as The Salutation Gardens) on Friday 26th August 2011 from 11.00am until 3pm.

They will be giving away free gifts together with promotional items, literature and leaflets. There is a tea room, a gift shop and 3.5 acres of stunning Lutyens and Jeckyll gardens which are an oasis of calm and serenity. The Secret Gardens are surrounded by ancient city walls inside which there are tree lined walkways, sculptures to admire and the beautiful lake and gardens. We will invite people to write their thoughts and ideas (either anonymously or signed) as to how they would encourage people to talk more openly about mental illness on a tag/label which they will then be able to tie onto a ''Time to Talk Tree'.

Friday 26/08/2011 - 11:00am - 3:00pm

Knightrider Street
Sandwich
Kent CT13 9EW

speakupCIC Befriending Scheme group activities

speakupCIC (formerly East Kent User Forum) have published their befriending scheme activities for July, available here.

Richmond Fellowship program, August

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for August, and also their August Newsletter.

Free Bar‐B­‐Q

SpeakupCIC and Time to Change are holding a FREE Bar-B-Q to encourage dialogue between those WITH and those WITHOUT Mental Health Issues.

Thursday 15 September, 1130am-3.00pm, at
Jet Ski World, Hodges Gap Promenade,
PalmBay, Cliftonville,
Margate. CT9 3DF

Music, games, flying kites for Time to Change, and fighting the stigma of mental health distress.

Free parking is available on Palm Bay Ave with steps down to the cafe, and disabled is available immediately in front of the cafe on the seafront access via Hodges Gap next to the Bethesden Centre.

For more information contact Maggie or Amanda at

SpeakupCIC
The Media Centre
11-13 King Street
Margate, CT9 1DA.
01843 609 359
maggie@speakupcic.co.uk
www.speakupcic.co.uk

speakupCIC Befriending Scheme group activities

speakupCIC (formerly East Kent User Forum) have published their befriending scheme activities for July, available here.

Richmond Fellowship program, July

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for July, and also their July Newsletter.

Richmond Fellowship program, June

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for June, and also their June Newsletter.

Peer Support - the way forward

KMPT are holding an event aimed at both service users and staff considering how peer support is transforming mental health services in the UK, and how it can be put into action across Kent and Medway.

Thursday 7th July 10.00am - 4.00pm at

Lenham Community Centre, Groom Way,
Lenham, Near Maidstone ME17 2QT

For further information and an application form, see this flyer.

speakupCIC Befriending Scheme group activities

speakupCIC (formerly East Kent User Forum) have published their befriending scheme activities for June, available here.

Picnic on the Green - Carer's Picnic and Family Day

Carers’ Support organisations across Kent join together to bring you a day of fun and entertainment to celebrate Carers’ Week on Saturday 18th June from 11.30am to 3pm at:


Walmer Green
The Strand, Walmer
Deal CT14 7DX

Attractions include a tea tent, therapy tent, KMFM and live music, local entertainment. Bring your own picnic (no BBQs, guide dogs only)


For more information please call 01304 364 637

Richmond Fellowship program, May

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for May, and also their May Newsletter.

Changes to your Wellbeing Blog settings

Some improvements have been made to your local wellbeing blog.

Firstly, anyone can now comment on any of the posts. You do not have to be a registered user. So if you have something to say about anything you read here, let the rest of us know! 

Secondly, there are now two new ways to stay up-to-date with your local wellbeing blog, using two new options on the right hand menus, "Subscribe to" and "Follow by Email".

"Subscribe to" allows you to pick up a news feed with, amongst others Google Reader, My Yahoo and Atom RSS.

If that sounds complicated, the really easy option is "Follow by Email". Enter your email address, follow the simple verification instructions, and henceforth you'll get an email every time there is a new post!

Richmond Fellowship program, April

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for April, and also their April Newsletter.

Rethink East Kent Advocacy Service

A reminder that the Rethink East Kent Advocacy Service will be running a drop in for anyone wishing to access the advocacy service on the following dates and times in March and April:

Herne Bay Umbrella Centre - 31 March 2 - 4pm, and 28 April 2 - 4pm
Canterbury Umbrella Centre - 24 March 1 - 3pm, and 21 April 1 - 3pm
Whitstable Umbrella Centre - 5 April 12 - 2pm
Faversham Umbrella Centre - 14 April  12 - 2pm

For more information about Rethink and the services provided click here.

New You Resolutions - Employment Fair

A range of employers will be on hand to provide information about job opportunities in Thanet on

Friday 15 April, 10am to 3pm, at

Thanet's Gateway Plus
Cecil Street
Margate CT9 1RG

For more details call Gateway Plus on 08458 247202

Changes in the NHS - What will it mean for YOU and your doctor?

This Kent LINk Community Engagement Event is your chance to find out what is happening to your health and social care services.


The formal meeting will start at 10.45am although refreshments will be available from 10.00am to give people an opportunity to socialise and network. See full information and book your free place here.

Wednesday, 23 March 2011, 10am - 3pm

The Camden Centre,
Royal Victoria Place
Market Square
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2SW

Art Uniting People - Spring Exhibition

Art Uniting People is a non-profit organisation who have run two successful annual exhibitions in 2009 and 2010 to promote the talents of artists around Kent, including professionals, amateurs and those with mental health and physical disabilities. This year, for the first time, there is also a Spring Exhibition at


County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ



from 14th -28th March, 10:30am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday.


Entry is FREE

Richmond Fellowship program, March

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for March, and also their March Newsletter.

Free Book Giveaway!

speakup CIC are giving away free books, as part of World Book Night, at

Thanet Mental Health Unit
164 Ramsgate Road
Margate CT9 4BF

on Saturday 5 March from 4pm

Cone along, bring a friend, and get free books!

Fro more information see this flyer or call Maggie or Amanda on 01843 230726

Learning from Experience 2 - How are we doing?

This event is for service users and carers and is a follow up to the actions that the Kent & Medway Partnership Trust have put into place since the National Patient Survey of last year.

Tuesday 15 March, 10:30am - 3:30pm

Upstairs lounge, The Salvation Army
74-80 Union Street
Maidstone ME14 1ED

Lunch is provided. Registration is required, so for more information see the flyer here or call Maria Duran on 01227 812034.

Personal Development Fund - up to £500 for service users & carers!

A reminder about the Personal Development Fund, which is intended to promote the personal development of individuals living right across Kent whose lives have been directly or indirectly affected by severe or persistent mental ill health.

The fund has been able to pay for things like conferences and training courses, travel and accommodation for such events, art materials, Reiki training, laptops, printers and so on.

A panel of service users, carers and voluntary organisations meet every three months to decide on awards. For more information, see this flyer. To apply, download an application form in either Word or PDF format.

The scheme is funded by Kent County Council and administered by Sevenoaks Area Mind.

Your feedback on community mental health in Kent and Medway

Medway PCT, who lead the development of mental health services across Kent and Medway, are asking for your help in looking at how these services can be improved. They would like to ask service users and carers six simple questions about the services they are using - including what works, what doesn't work, and what are the key factors that make a good service.

This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard!

The survey can be completed very simply online here, or alternatively you can download the survey in Word or PDF format to complete and return by post or email.

Please make sure your voice is heard by Friday 18 March!

No Health without Mental Health

The government have published "No health without mental health - A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages." A news item on the Live It Well website gives details of where you can read this, and a sample of responses from relevant organisations.

EKUF Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Support Group

This is a self-help group meeting on a monthly basis, creating an opportunity to meet new people in a warm friendly atmosphere to talk about lifestyles, hardships, joys, intimacies, and anything else!

Tuesday February 8th at 1, 30 pm
Tuesday March 8th at 1.30 pm
Tuesday April 12th 1.30 pm
Tuesday May 10th at 1, 30 pm
Tuesday June 14th at 1.30 pm

At the Walpole Bay Hotel – Margate

If you would like to join this group or find out more, or if you think someone you know might benefit, or if you would just like to talk your own experiences, then please contact Maggie Gallant on 01843 230726 to make an appointment. Read the flyer here.

East Kent User Forum - Befriending activities in February

Lots of weekly, monthly and occasional happenings listed in the EKUF befriending schedule for the month of February.

Richmond Fellowship program, February

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for February, and also their February Newsletter.

Fit for Work Service

Fit for Work is a free service running across East Kent. The aim is to help individuals, who are employed but currently off work sick, to return to work. A team of occupational therapists, employment
specialists, psychologists and physiotherapists is available depending on the employees support needs.

More information in this flyer, or on the Eastern and Coastal Kent NHS website.

New Year New Start!

A chance for you to find out more about health services in and around Margate, on Monday 31 January at St Paul's Community Centre, 1pm - 4:30 pm. Foot massage, exercise machines, dance demonstrations and more! See the flyer here.

Richmond Fellowship program, January

The Richmond Fellowship have published their day service program of events in Thanet for January, and also their January Newsletter.