Are you feeling depressed, lonely, anxious, stressed, or do you have a specific mental health difficulty such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder?
If so you are not alone
1 in 4 people experience a mental health difficulty at some point in their life and there is support available
Community Action Blaby District’s Mental Health Project offers a variety of social support groups, Befriending Scheme, sporting activity and organic gardening, all aiming to provide the skills people need to enable them to cope with their difficulties, increase their confidence and self esteem and lead an independent life.
Sporting Change
The aim of the project is to provide opportunities for people to take part in physical activity that will have a positive benefit on both their mental and physical health.
Yoga and Relaxation
Mondays 10.30 -12pm
County Scout HQ,
Winchester Rd, Blaby
Sports Group
Wednesdays 10:00 – 12:00
Meet at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote, LE9 3BN
Health Walks
Wednesdays 1.00pm to 2.30pm (approx)
Meet at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote, LE9 3BN
Social Drop in’s
The aim of the groups is to enable people to increase their confidence and independence and have opportunities to try new activities and access community facilities.
Blaby Social Drop in
Mondays 10:30 -1:30
Lutterworth Social Drop in
Tuesday 9:30 – 11:30
Braunstone Social Drop in
Tuesday 1:30-3:30
The Pavilion Social Drop in
Wednesday 11:30 – 1:00
Oadby Social Drop in
Thursday 9:30 – 11:30
Blaby Social Drop in
Thursday 1:30 – 4:30
Wigston Social Drop in
Friday 9:30 – 12:30
Braunstone Social Drop in
Friday 2:00 – 4:00
Creative Crafts
Wednesdays 1 - 3pm
The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote, Leics, LE9 3BN
Befriending Scheme
The aim of the Scheme is for volunteers to befriend members of the community that require support because of their mental health difficulties and help individuals to develop new skills and increase their self esteem. Befriending offers that extra help that other services cannot provide i.e. the ability to offer additional support and encouragement.
The support offered varies depending on the individual but can include someone visiting you at home for a coffee and chat, going shopping together, visiting places of interests, taking up new hobbies.
A Place To Grow
The overall aim of the project is to increase individuals physical activity through gardening, promoting healthy eating and increasing awareness and understanding of the contribution physical activity makes to well being and good health. A Place to Grow provides further opportunities for people to learn gardening skills and grow their own organic vegetables.
See Place to Grow page for opening times.
Volunteering Opportunities
If you are interested in supporting people with mental health difficulties we have volunteer opportunities for Befrienders, Group Support Workers, Gardeners, Drivers, sport mentors and Minibus Drivers. For more information click on the link (link to Volunteer page) or contact the Volunteer Organisers Jane Dover or Yvonne Dudley on 0116 272 7669 or email volunteer@cabd.org.uk
A Few Common Questions!
Who can access the services provided by the project?
Anyone aged 18-65 and living within Blaby District, Lutterworth, Oadby, Wigston and Braunstone areas. People living outside of these areas are also welcome to access services, but priority for places are given to the above residents and people will have to make their own way to groups.
How can I access the groups, courses?
If you are interested in getting involved and attending any of the groups, courses or Befriending Scheme please contact Annette Boon on 0116 272 7670 or email mentalhealth@cabd.org.uk Alternatively download a self referral form here.
If you are a health and/or social care professional and are making a referral on behalf of someone else please see the information below.
What happens once I have referred myself to the project?
Depending on what group or course you are interested in attending, Annette will contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss your needs and the support you require and arrange starting dates with you.
Is transport available?
For groups, people do have to make their own way to sessions. We can discuss the arrangement of volunteer drivers if transport is a real difficulty, but there is a charge for this service.
For health and social care professionals
How to make a referral?
If you would like to refer someone to the project please contact Annette Boon on 0116 272 7670. Please ensure that you have read the referral guidelines before making a referral, a copy can be downloaded below. We also have a service guide that we can send out on request.
Referral Form for health and social care professionals
Multi-Agency Mental Health Forum
The project also co-ordinates a quarterly mental health forum which provides the opportunity for people involved in delivering mental health services and supporting individuals with mental health difficulties to meet on a regular basis to discuss current mental health issues, identify gaps in services and share information. The overall aim being to increase partnership working within the District.
The next forum is at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote, Leics, LE9 3BN on 29th September 2009. Lunch is provided. If you would like to attend please contact Annette Boon 0116 272 7670 or mentalhealth@cabd.org.uk
Services Manager
Annette Boon
Telephone: 0116 272 7669
During the absence of Sarah Northern who is currently on maternity leave, Annette will oversee the mental health services for CABD including Sporting Change, Get Active Sports and the community garden project ‘A Place to Grow’.
Email: mentalhealth@cabd.org.uk
Mental Health
Telephone: 0116 2727 670
Annette Boon, Befriending,
Annette coordinates our befriending project for adults experiencing mental health difficulties, including the provision of one to one mentoring support for volunteer befrienders. The aim of the role is to increase individual’s independence, confidence and re-integration into the community.
Email: mentalhealth@cabd.org.uk
Alison Wright, Ellen Woodward and Eleanor Blackwell, Lydia Lowe and Stacey Timson - Social Drop in Organisers
Alison, Ellen, Eleanor Lydia and Stacey run the Social Drop Ins across Blaby District, Lutterworth, Braunstone and Oadby & Wigston supporting adults experiencing mental health difficulties.
Email: mentalhealth@cabd.org.uk
Stevie Hardy, Sporting Change and Get Active Organiser
Stevie coordinates Sporting Change, a project aimed at supporting adults experiencing mental health difficulties to take part in physical activity as a way of promoting their mental and physical health. A variety of different activities are planned dependant on the needs of participants e.g. yoga and walks. Stevie also coordinates the Get Active Project which runs sporting and out door pursuits sessions for young people age 16-25. The emphasis for this project is on increasing individual’s self- esteem and moving individuals on via goal planning.
Email: mentalhealth@cabd.org.uk
Joe Chaney, Place To Grow Organiser
Joe coordinates a Place to Grow an organic community garden. The overall aim of the project is to increase individuals physical activity through gardening, promoting healthy eating and increasing awareness and understanding of the contribution physical activity makes to well being and good health.
Email: aplacetogrow@cabd.org.uk