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Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
Kindness, the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May) which will focus on the power and potential of kindness.
Author: Hayley Coomber
Posted on: 12th May 2020
We are here for you
Mind BLMK charity announces how it will continue to support mental health in Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes
Local mental health charity Mind BLMK has just announced online its plans to adapt their current range of support for people and organisations across Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes during this current climate.
By offering a range of one-to-one support by phone or email, the charity intends to continue supporting people experiencing mental health problems.
Mind BLMK will also be offering wellbeing calls to those in the community, who feel that they would like some support.
Author: Hayley Coomber
Posted on: 19th March 2020
Mind BLMK gives Three Cheers for its Volunteers at its 2019 AGM
Last Friday, 18 October, 2019, Mind BLMK celebrated its volunteers at its AGM held at The Rufus Centre in Flitwick. The event was attended by over 110 service users, volunteers, health care professionals, staff and trustees.
Mind BLMK has around 140 amazing volunteers who have dedicated over 11,000 hours to its services over the past year. The help Mind BLMK receives from its volunteers is vital in enabling us to provide continued support to thousands of people to improve their mental health across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. (more…)
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 22nd October 2019
Mind BLMK is awarded the Mind Quality Mark
Mind BLMK has been awarded the Mind Quality Mark (MQM). The MQM is a robust quality assurance framework created by Mind, the mental health charity.
MQM sets out the baseline of best practice and legal compliance in all areas of a local Mind’s governance and activities. To achieve the MQM, a local Mind must meet or exceed all 24 key standards.
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 9th October 2019
ANLP raises over £6,000 at Awards Gala in support of Mind BLMK
In collaboration with the Association for Neuro Linguistic Programming (ANLP) network, the ANLP team recently raised over £6,000 at their annual Awards Gala, in support of Mind BLMK, the local independent charity working to provide positive mental health and wellbeing across the communities of Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes.
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 29th July 2019
Mental health awareness in the construction industry
Mind BLMK’s Market Development Manager, Jeanette Skipsey recently met with site manager, Philip Gormley, and his team from McAleer & Rushe at their Milton Keynes site. Jeanette delivered a talk about mental health and the challenges faced within the construction industry, and explained how to reach out to others who may need support with their emotional wellbeing.
This was arranged as part of McAleer & Rushe’s wider campaign as a company to break down the stigma around talking about mental health within the construction industry. Philip presented Jeanette with a £170.00 donation to support the work that Mind BLMK undertakes in mental health and wellbeing.
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 17th July 2019
Yoga in the Park
Two of our supporters, Kelly and Christine, recently celebrated the International Day of Yoga at Campbell Park in Milton Keynes, and took the opportunity to raise funds for Mind BLMK at the same time. Here’s their write up of the event:
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 10th July 2019
Join our team for the 10th London to Brighton Bike Ride in September!
Love cycling? Fancy a challenge? We have a limited number of places available for the London to Brighton Bike Ride on 15 September, 2019. This year is the 10th anniversary of this iconic 55 mile bike ride from the capital to the south coast, and we’d be delighted for you to take part on our behalf in return for raising just £150 in sponsorship.
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 26th June 2019
Celebrating Eid al-Fitr at our Queens Park Ladies’ group
Last week our Wellbeing for Later Life project celebrated the end of Ramadan by hosting an Eid party for our Queens Park over 55s group, Kushaal. Over 40 ladies attended, and along with a wonderful selection of food and drink, we also enjoyed a variety of activities including beautifully sung nasheeds, Indian head massages, a raffle, hand massages, laughter yoga, mehndi art, and mandala colouring.
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 19th June 2019
Mental Health Awareness Week 2019
During Mental Health Awareness Week, Mind BLMK’s Training team delivered 13 courses across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes to non-mental health workers in the subjects of Mental Health First Aid Lite (MHFA half day) and See the Signs (suicide awareness).
Author: Julie Stock
Posted on: 22nd May 2019
Mindline Trans+ National Helpline
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential, emotional, mental health support helpline and signposting service for people who identify as Trans, A Gender, Gender Fluid, or non-binary. Find out more
Elefriends
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, share and be heard. Find out more
Mental Health A-Z
Information and advice on a huge range of mental health topics from the National Mind website. Find out more
Latest Updates
Follow Mind BLMK on your favourite social network
We just want to say a massive thank you to our 152 volunteers, who have been vital in running all our services.
From our volunteer counsellors, to those donating their expertise by becoming a Trustee, from our amazing admin and finance volunteers, to the ones that help support our services. We are so hugely grateful to each and every person who supports our work through volunteering.
Here's a short film, created by Film Maker and one of our service users, Marcus, for our AGM last year where we celebrated our volunteers.
#VolunteersWeek
We think it's important that we show our appreciation to our supporters, who keep us going even during difficult times. We couldn't do the important work we do without you.
If you'd like to raise funds for us, by using your skills or challenging yourself, get in touch with us at [email protected]
Cara, our School Counselling Coordinator, is still working hard to support students. Last week for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek she set them a kindness challenge.
We love Uma's response - a rucksack full of kind thoughts that reminds us to treat ourselves kindly too.
#kindnessblmk #mentalhealth
We are still here for you.
Find out what we're doing to support people during this time in our local community, by visiting our website or getting in touch.
#mentalhealth #bedfordshire #luton #miltonkeynes
We want to thank everyone from Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes who shared with us how kindness has had a positive impact on their mental health. It lifted our spirits speaking to each one of you. And here's a final one, for the to close with on #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
"I was used to seeing my family at least twice a week. So when this all started I was feeling lost and helpless and missed them a lot. I found it really difficult. I’m grateful to have such good family and friends, and video calls are a nice way for us to stay connected, but I found we were mainly talking about what’s been on TV and what we’ve been eating, nothing deeper than that – it can feel one dimensional.
I received a letter with a note inside that read “I’m hoping what is enclosed will give you a boost to your day. Please remember how great you are. You can place these post-it notes around your house, for when you need them.” In the envelope, there were lots of post-it notes that had been written on. “You’re an amazing friend and I’m lucky to have you in my life.” “Take care of yourself, and then you can take care of others.”
It was really unexpected. For me the things that really make a difference are meaningful conversations and knowing that someone is thinking about me. Reading these notes made me feel validated and recognised as being a good friend, which really meant a lot. I like this one - “You’re doing your best and that is enough.” And “Don’t be hard on yourself, life is hard and we’re all learning as we go.” They’re all really kind.
I put all the notes on my fridge so every time I come home I see them again. And each time it reminds me that someone’s thinking about me. I get emotional just thinking about it. It’s nice to understand what I mean to someone else, and reminds me how we can make someone feel by reaching out to them in different, more meaningful ways.
I hope that after this is all over, we carry on connecting with people in honest and open ways that shows we really value them. But also, I hope people remember to continue to have more of an understanding for other people’s situations. That normally there’s a reason why friends haven’t connected with us. It doesn’t mean that they don’t care. They do still care and most likely think about you too, but they just don’t always communicate that - and that’s okay. Just because they’re not saying what they feel it doesn’t mean you’re any less important in their life. Remembering this is a kind act in itself."
#KindnessBLMK #KindnessMatters
We think it's important that we show our appreciation to our supporters, who keep us going even during difficult times. We couldn't do the important work we do without you.
If you'd like to raise funds for us you can get in touch at [email protected]
#MindBLMK
A sweet recognition post for all the hard work Hayley, our Fundraising Manager, has been doing. Thank you @JoMcclaren, we think she's awesome too! ☺️
