Your March Newsletter from Healthy Minds!
Dear Supporter,
The recent phrase heard around the office at the moment has been 'where did March GO?'. It has been a jam packed month here at Healthy Minds, from allotment spring cleaning to International Women's Day celebrations, this month has been a whopper! Read all about it...
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Thank you to everyone who attended last Monday for our first in-person public event to consult our community of service users and volunteers about things that matter to you in Healthy Minds, feeding into the ‘core values’ work which has been progressing over the past year.
It was wonderful to hear all your creative and constructive reflections on what makes Healthy Minds unique, and what we should be striving towards as we move into the future.
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We are now busy digesting the huge quantity of thoughts that were shared and recorded from the table discussions to uncover the final pieces of the puzzle of our set of core values.
One thing was made immediately clear though - that you all want more of these kind of events! We are really motivated by your enthusiasm and look forward to holding more forum-style events this year!
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If you came along and have any other feedback about the event or further suggestions, please complete the survey here, we would love to hear from you!
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YOUR CHANCE to Complete the 2022 Virtual London Marathon!
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HELLO runners and walkers! We're looking for 12 people in Calderdale to represent Healthy Minds in the 2022 virtual TCS London Marathon.
This could be you! Walk, jog or run, do it your way.
Visit our website today to find out more/apply now!
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Outcome Measures Consultation: We Need Your Views!
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We are seeking views on how mental health services can record and measure what difference they make in people's wellbeing. We have launched a short survey comparing two sets of wellbeing measures.
Please go to the website here and tell us what you think by 11th April.
This is a chance to have your say - we will pass on the findings from this survey to NHS England.
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Time Out will be back again for the Easter school holidays bringing you a host of fun activities for ages 9+!
Our popular activities will be returning along with some new stuff! There'll be lots to do including boxing, digital art, cricket, outdoor fun days, Eggstravaganza and creative writing at the library imaginarium.
The programme is currently being finalised, but we promise to get bookings open as soon as possible on our website, so stay tuned..
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Underlands Exhibition At Gibson Mill
The Easter Holidays also bring the culminating event that is our Underlands Exhibition - displaying all the incredible artwork created by the young people so far who have taken part in the fungilicious adventure with Hebden Bridge Arts Festival!
Join us at the final Underlands showcase, as part of the Land Marks Exhibition at Gibson Mill, Hardcastle Craggs - open (free entry) on:
Friday 22 April, 2-4pm
Saturday 23 April, 10 - 4am
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We're looking for volunteers!
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We are always open to new volunteers joining our team!
Our volunteers make such a huge difference to our young people's lives, bringing their own personal experience and giving young people someone they can relate with.
You don't need tons of experience, just a willingness to relate with young people and a passion for improving young people's lives. Interested? Find out more here!
Or get in touch with Cath: cath@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
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Meet The Team: New Community Health & Wellbeing Project!
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Lisa Dunne - Operational Manager
My name is Lisa, I am new to Healthy Minds and my role is operational manager with overview of the Time Out, Roshani, Volunteer and Emotional Health and Wellbeing services. I have worked in Calderdale for approx 14 years within the VCS and I'm really looking forward to my new role and all it brings.
We are welcoming a new team to Healthy Minds, the Community Emotional health and Wellbeing team, to pilot new and excting ways of working with people. The team is comprised of 9 workers who will work across localities across Calderdale by identifying a number of households and then offering support to all of those households on their own doorstep.
The idea is based on a Brazilian health care model that takes support to the heart of the community by making people aware of what is available in their own area and how they can access that support for themselves or a member of their household.
We have our Central team in post and we are welcoming our other teams in the coming weeks, we will keep you updated about our team and work via the newsletter and our social channels!
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Nimra Noor - Central Halifax Project Worker
This new; Emotional Health & Wellbeing Project is part of Community Mental Health Transformation Programme, and I am extremely exited to be part of this. As this role has given me the opprtunity to work with my local community, and support families in their emotional health and wellbeing journeys.
Emotional Wellbeing is not about destination, it is about the journey to reach that destination and as an EHWB worker, I see myself walking alongside these people, on the journey towards their destination.
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Thank you Healthy Minds for this opportunity and thank you to all the members of Healthy Minds Team for being extremely wellcoming. It has been an absolute pleasure to start working alongside you all.
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Misbah Nadeem - Central Halifax Project Worker
My name is Misbah, I am a new Community Emotional Health Wellbeing worker for the project in central Halifax. This is the opportunity to build trust and relationships with those who are distress after long periods of loneliness and losing their loved ones during the hard times of pandemic.
The beauty of this job role is very close to my nature. I am happy as always to connect with the community for their wellbeing by giving value and paying respect to individual's views beyond the culture and ethnicity and Healthy Minds is a brilliant platform to start from.
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It is an honour for me to be a part of hardworking crew of Healthy Minds. Thank you, Healthy Minds, for giving me an opportunity to sparkle like a shiny star!
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Before we returned to our Allotment Group after a winter break, our Upper Valley Group got to try out something different with our Forage, Cook & Eat sessions!
We explored the wonderful Incredible Edible plots in Todmorden and worked together to identify and pick fresh herbs, which we then used in the affordable healthy meals we learnt to make. Over the three sessions we learnt to make a Greek Chickpea Stew, a Butternut Squash Risotto and a Lentil Dahl with homemade chapatti’s thanks to talented group member Judi!
The sessions were a great way to explore how we can support our wellbeing through cooking and eating nutritious meals while also following a budget – our favourite recipe had to be the Chickpea Stew which works out less than £1 per portion!
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One of the participants has recently told us they received tins of chickpeas in their recent order at the local food bank and is looking forward to making this meal for their family member, saying “I feel a lot more confident after these sessions.”
If you’re interested in finding out about future Forage, Cook & Eat sessions please get in touch with Sam: samantha@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk or 07845 014 928.
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Returning to the Tod Allotment
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After what felt like a long, cold winter away from our lovely Allotment in Todmorden we were so happy to be back there this month with our Big Dig!
The Spring sun was shining and the daffodils we planted last Autumn were flowering which made us all feel like lighter, more positive days are ahead. Lots of people got stuck in weeding, tidying up and planting out Lambs Lettuce and Spinach we grew from seed last Autumn.
While our green-fingered group members kept busy, the others cooked lunch for everyone on the camp fire using the recipe for the Chickpea Stew they’d learnt at our cookery sessions. After a busy couple of hours we all enjoyed sitting around the campfire, reflecting on the day while eating lunch together.
If you’d like to join our Allotment Group in Todmorden please get in touch with Sam: samantha@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk or 07845 014 928.
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Our second session at Healthy Minds Tod Allotment went swimmingly! The weather kept fine and we arrived to find that Paul's hard work in sowing Rocket seeds had paid off - tiny seedlings had poked their way through the soil!
Our activity this week round the fire was to forage for wild garlic and make our own pesto. Some of the group had never tasted it before but all loved it! Hot drinks and cake were provided by our wonderful volunteers Chris and Jackie. Here's the recipe - but don't delay in making it, wild garlic season doesn't last forever!
We also talked about the concept of a Sit Spot and how we could make ourselves a favourite place to sit and enjoy the world around us.
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Live Wild Session for Staff
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After putting a lot of effort into supporting others, our staff took a bit of time recently for some self care thanks to Walsden based 'Live Wild'.
"What a joy it was for some of the Healthy Minds team to join Live Wild and M.O.R.E at Walsden Farm last week for a much needed convene with nature."
"We were very well taken care of, fed wild garlic crackers, led in song, encouraged to spend time noticing and being mindful. Some of us hung out by the rippling waters of the canal, others explored the fields and some even chilled in hammocks. Lovely to be with people we work with round a roaring fire and to spend time in natureplaying games. We practiced what we have been preaching! After a giddy morning, we went home buzzing!"
- Deborah
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