How we can help

3 days ago

Join Mind BLMK next month and get your body moving, for Virtually Active April.

Whether it’s dancing around your kitchen, stretching in bed, potting plants (inside or out), lifting tins of beans like weights or joining an online yoga group – it all counts.

Take the pledge today, to get active everyday.

For more information and to sign up for free please visit - bit.ly/2JiVcmk ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

We know that at the moment it's even more important to notice the small things in our lives that bring us joy. Our staff will be sharing the simple things that they find joy and refuge in. We'd love to hear from you too; what things bring you joy?⁣
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"I've always loved dancing; it has always been part of my life as far back as I can remember. Growing up I used to go to weekly ballet, tap and modern dance classes, often putting on ‘dance shows’ for my family when I got home. As I got older I got into Latin dancing, specifically salsa. I'm always the first to jump on the dance floor, and can’t help but move my body to a good beat.⁣
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I now find myself using it as an escape from the world. Dancing is my reset button, my distraction and my safe space. When I'm dancing I'm relaxed. When I'm dancing, it’s one of the only times I fully let go, let my body be free and my mind shut off.⁣
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Life can be complicated and even though dancing can’t fix problems, I find that turning the music up really loud and dancing around my kitchen helps me be in the moment, for at least a song or two.⁣
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Now more than ever, it is important that we're able to provide crisis support to people who need it the most. During these next few weeks, we'll be offering emotional wellbeing support over the phone. As the Crisis Café Manager, I'm so proud to be leading our fantastic team to provide this essential service until we re-open our cafes."⁣
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If you or someone you know needs urgent support with their mental health, we are here for you. Our Crisis Café will be operating remotely. To find out more visit our website - bit.ly/2SWYdgT ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

**SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENT**

To help support people during this current climate, we have just announced plans to adapt our current range of support for people and organisations across Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes.

We will be offering wellbeing support by email or phone, and doing everything we can to continue supporting those in our community at this time.

Mind BLMK would also like to encourage those who need support to contact us via 0300 330 0648 or by e-mailing [email protected]

Alternatively, if you or someone you know needs urgent or crisis support with their mental health, our Crisis Café will be operating remotely Tuesday to Friday, between 5pm – 11pm and can be contacted during these times via telephone on 01525 722 225.

For more information, please visit our website - www.mind-blmk.org.uk/news/we-are-here-for-you/ ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

An amazing list of wonderful free resources, from our friends at Oxfordshire MindIf you’ve been asked to stay at home, avoid other people, or remotely work it might feel more difficult than usual to take care of your mental wellbeing.

We are going to share some free resources, which you might find useful:

1: The Open University has a variety of free online courses:

👉 open.edu/openlearn/?fbclid=IwAR2NUvPSTdfrrQblKOLSG5GfgVE4uacHaQdxCRsNNNgamIjcPWOEB7pxMqE

2: Lots of museums have great online virtual tours, discover the top ten online:

👉 top10.com/virtual-museum-tours

3: BBC Bitesize has online training and learning modules around a whole host of topics!

👉 bbc.co.uk/bitesize

4: Mindful colouring, which can be done via the internet or through printed pages:

👉 mombooks.com/mom/online-activities/

5: Online books, which are free to view and can be printed out as PDFs if you prefer to read a physical book:

👉https://gutenberg.org

6: Gentle, home workouts, which can be completed from the comfort of a chair via the nhs.uk:

👉nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/10-minute-home-cardio-workout/

7: Free music courses which incorporate audio and visual learning:

👉 open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/music

8: The Ashmolean Museum website has a host of free case studies and project videos which are free to download and listen to:

👉 ashmolean.org/case-studies-and-projects

9: Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, but now there's a safe place to listen:

👉 elefriends.org.uk

10: If you feel like you need more support, the Oxfordshire Mind Information Service can provide free support, guidance and signposting:

📱01865 247788
👝[email protected]
👉https://oxfordshiremind.org.uk/wellbeing/information-service/

#covid19 #wellbeing #support #free #Oxfordshire ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

If you are worried about the growing concern over Coronavirus please take a look at this useful guide from Mind on how to look after yourself and others.

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/?utm_medium=organic&utm_source... ... See MoreSee Less