Category: News

Wiltshire Mind joins BBC’s “Make a Difference – Happy Heads” local radio campaign

Helping Children and Young People across Wiltshire

One of the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic is the effect on children’s mental health.

BBC Wiltshire’s local radio campaign Make A Difference: Happy Heads aims to help children, parents and carers by promoting volunteering, and sharing links to organisations and charities that can help.

Wiltshire Mind’s Counselling Co-ordinator and Community Fundraiser Laura Oatley joined the local radio conversation on 17th February. You can listen here to the full interview.

Our counselling service for those aged 11+, provides long term support, away from the school environment. Provided by specialist young peoples’ counsellors, the service is easily accessible – to find out more email us at counselling@wiltshiremind.co.uk

Our free counselling for children and young people provides a safe space where highly specialist counsellors use a range of creative therapeutic methods to help young people connect to, and express, their emotions. Helping young people develop coping strategies can mean they are able to thrive rather than just survive.

We are an independent local Mental Health Charity based in Melksham providing county-wide services and we are here for you. We are affiliated to Mind, supporting those who are experiencing mental health problems or emotional distress.

Visit our website today for more information.

If you would like to support us, please donate using our Just Giving page.

We are recruiting: Qualified Young People’s Counsellor

We are recruiting for a Qualified Young People’s Counsellor on a fixed term of 3 months to support demand for our counselling service for 11-17 year olds.

The advert and job description are detailed below.

2021-Young-Person-Counsellor-3-Month-Fixed-Term-Job-Description-v2Download
2021-Young-Person-Counsellor-Fixed-Term-Ad-v2Download

CLOSING DATE 26th February 2021

How to apply: 

To enquire about the role and request an application form, please either call or email Philippa Collins using the details below:

01225 706532    |   philippa.collins@wiltshiremind.co.uk

Peer Support Groups resume via Zoom

We are taking the Coronavirus pandemic extremely seriously and know that it has caused anxiety amongst the public and our own staff, volunteers and participants, especially where we have had to suspend face to face services.

It is great news that we are now able to resume our Peer Support groups online via Zoom, and this is available to both existing and new group members seeking support with their mental health and wellbeing.

The timetable of groups is as follows:

  • Chippenham – Mondays 10am
  • Malmesbury – Mondays 12pm
  • Devizes – Tuesdays 10am
  • Melksham – Wednesday 12pm
  • Trowbridge – Fridays 10.30am

We will also be re-starting the Evening Group and Tidworth group soon.  Tidworth will run on Thursdays at 10.30am and the Evening Group will run on Tuesdays at 6.30pm.

To register your interest in attending our peer support groups, simply email supportgroups@wiltshiremind.co.uk with your contact details and the group you are interested in attending.

Our 1-2-1 counselling services are continuing remotely via Zoom and telephone.

In addition to our adult service, we offer counselling to young people from 11 years of age.

To find out more, or to register for counselling, please email counselling@wiltshiremind.co.uk

We understand the huge impact that months of lockdown have had on people’s mental health, and we are here for you. Please do get in touch if you would like to access our online services.

We need your support please

Since the first lock down in March 2020, Wiltshire Mind has been providing Counselling for adults and young people and also running Peer Support Groups to those in need of mental health support. We have seen a big increase in demand in recent weeks, and we have been able to offer online counselling and support groups to people across Wiltshire. Last year, we were able to offer over 1150 counselling sessions.

Like many charities, we are seeing a decrease in our income though. We offer low-cost services, ensuring they are available to anyone. But this also means our current level of income is not covering our costs.

To provide mental health support to our communities across Wiltshire through 2021, we need to raise £465 a day. We do not currently receive any commissioned or statutory funding, so we rely on the generous donations of our supporters and local fundraising activity, which has been hit hard by the pandemic and the social restrictions.

1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in our lifetime. We make a difference by offering hope through mental health support to our community. The Coronovirus pandemic is having a huge impact on our mental health. Help us be there for everyone in Wiltshire who needs us at this time.

If you can help in any way, please support us and donate today.

To find our more about Wiltshire Mind, visit our website.

Support over Christmas period

Our counselling and peer support groups close over the Christmas period. If you are experiencing problems, and need support urgently, please see our Information and Support pages.

Support contacts

Support Contacts

If you are struggling with your mental health, it’s really important to reach out for support. Here are some organisations who can provide free support at any time, day or night.

Side by Side

This is a supportive online community where you can feel at home talking about your mental health and connect with others who understand what you are going through. It is a safe place to share experiences and listen to others. The community is available to all, 24/7.

Shout

Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 and a trained volunteer will get back to you. You can talk about a range of issues including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, relationship problems, bullying or if you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s free to text from all major UK mobile networks and your messages are confidential and anonymous.

Samaritans

To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org

Help in a Crisis

If you or someone you know might imminently attempt suicide, or has already seriously harmed themselves, contact 999 or go to the nearest Accident & Emergency department. Mental health emergencies are serious, you are not wasting anyone’s time.

If you need urgent support for your mental health but it is not life-threatening, contact the NHS on 111 who can tell you how best to get support in your area.

Our charity shop opening hours over Christmas

Christmas is nearly upon us! Our Charity Shop is fully stocked and ready for the festive season. We are open every weekday and Saturday up until Christmas Eve.

Visit us in Melksham – and check out our Facebook page

OPENING HOURS

Thursday 24th December – Open 9am until 3pm

Friday 25th December – Closed

Saturday 26th December – Closed

Sunday 27th December – Closed

Monday 28th December – Closed

Tuesday 29th December – Open 9am to 4pm

Wednesday 30th December – Open 9am to 4pm

Thursday 31st December – Open 9am to 4pm

Friday 1st January – Closed

Open as usual Saturday 2nd January

Wiltshire Mind Charity Shop sells a range of ladies and men’s clothing. We are a local Mental health charity and monies raised helps us to continue our vital work within the community.

We provide mental health support to adults, children and young people and offer a safe a friendly place for those experiencing mental health problems or emotional distress. Every penny counts, and thank you for supporting Wiltshire Mind.

Merry Christmas to all!

Check out our Christmas Card Appeal here.

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2020

Notice is hereby given that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of Wiltshire Mind will be held:  

Date: Wednesday 30th December 2020

Time: 2pm-3pm

Venue: Via videoconference  

Register: By emailing office@wiltshiremind.co.uk (please put ‘AGM’ as the email subject)

or calling 01225 706532 Monday to Friday 9am-1pm.

All interested parties welcome

Agenda to include:

  • Receive the Trustees report for Wiltshire Mind Activities 2019-2020
  • Receive the accounts for Wiltshire Mind for 2019-2020
  • Appointment of Independent Examiner for Wiltshire Mind
  • Appointment of Directors (Trustees)

Paul Mills | Chief Executive Officer

Notice dated 3 December 2020

Charity Golf Day 2021 – Wiltshire Mind Golf Classic

A day of golf, fun and raising funds for mental health support across Wiltshire

Thursday 27th May 2021
Tee off: 12:00
Cost per team: £120 visitor team, £100 Kingsdown member team
At: Kingsdown Golf Club, Box, Corsham

Food available to buy on the day.

Located just 12 miles from the Junction 17 and 11 miles from Junction 18 of the M4 and only 5 miles from the centre of Bath, Kingsdown Golf Club is easy to get to. https://www.kingsdowngolfclub.co.uk/how_to_find_us

All proceeds go to Wiltshire Mind, your local mental health charity.

Prize Presentation: 16:30

Application and more information:

jdonald226@yahoo.co.uk or call 01225 706641

Cheques payable to Wiltshire Mind

or BACS 20-05-06

A/c number 90135984

Download our 2 page poster here for more details.

KIngsdown-Golf-Poster-2-pagerDownload

Sponsored by Ashford Homes – thank you!

Beautiful Kingsdown course at Box

Wiltshire Mind and lockdown – an update

Charity shop closure but our support services are running

As we enter the second lockdown of the year, we are sorry to say that our Wiltshire Mind charity shop in Melksham will be closed. This will cost our charity much needed income over the coming weeks.

Wiltshire Mind provides mental health support to our local community. Last year alone we helped provide over 1100 one-to-one counselling sessions for adults across Wiltshire. We continue to provide counselling through lockdown, and we are eternally gratefully to our team of volunteer counsellors. We also provide counselling support to those aged 11+, and the demand for young people’s counselling grows monthly.

This latest lockdown and the effects of the pandemic means that all mental health services are struggling to cope with the demand. Wiltshire Mind relies on fundraising, grants and donations from individuals and businesses to keep our services running. Despite helping the already over-stretched system, we have to rely totally on voluntary income.

Our peer support groups are currently not able to meet due to venue restrictions, but we are actively looking to run online support groups. If you are interested in attending these, please do contact us at counselling@wiltshiremind.co.uk.

For more information on our services, please contact us on 01225 706532 or email counselling@wiltshiremind.co.uk

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