A NATIONAL charity with a base in Reading held an open day to showcase the ways it can help those in the town who need mental health support.
Together for Mental Wellbeing aims to help people live independently despite their illness.
It recently welcomed volunteers to an open day held in a church next to its Rupert Street offices.
St John & St Stephen’s Church in Orts Road was the venue where national chief executive Linda Bryant shared the vision for the charity with those present.
“This is very much what I would call social care, and often we think of social care for older people, but a lot of people who experience mental distress also have a lot of practical needs around where they live, financial challenges, they might need help to get into work, employment and training,” she said. “Ee do an awful lot of very practical support to people.”
The organisation provides three services in Reading.
The Reading Community Outreach Service provides mental and emotional support to people recovering from mental health issues, particularly refugees and people from an ethnic background.
The Berkshire West Managing Emotions Programme are courses to help with understanding emotion and how to manage it, while a carers course supports people with emotional difficulties.
The Berkshire West Breathing Space supports those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Ms Bryant said: “The really important thing about the crisis service is that it operates in the evenings, weekends, Bank Holidays when the main mental health services are shut. This is about working to really flexibly to what people need when they need it.”
The charity is funded through donations and commissioning for the services it provides.
It has been commissioned by Reading Borough Council to conduct the Reading Community Outreach Service, and the NHS for its managing emotions programme and provision of the Berkshire West Breathing Space.
André Silva, services and project oversight manager said: “We are promoting our service to be able to help more people and target the people who need our help.”
Ms Bryant added that it was ‘lovely’ that the open day was held in a church as, although Together for Mental Wellbeing is a secular organisation, it was founded by the Revd Henry Hawkins in 1879.
The day was attended by Cllr Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood), deputy mayor of Reading, who said it had been an inspiring event.
“This day was all about shining a light on the incredible work being done in our community to support mental health,” he continued. “Let’s continue working together to create a community where mental well-being is a top priority.
Another open day is planned for next spring.
