Go 4

On Sunday 26th May 2013, the May Bank Holiday weekend, Portugal Prints will be joining the Westminister Mind team taking part in The Bupa Westminister Mile, organised by the London Marathon Trust and Westminister City Council. You can run or walk the race which starts and finishes on The Mail. Call Sam Tallant for more information tel: 020 7259 8100

Portugal Prints has brought out their May newsletter full of interesting items.

Anyone who would like a copy please telephone 020 7734 9212 or email  pp@westminstermind.org.uk

The Da Vinci group has brought out it's programme of interesting discussions and events for the summer term. Look for the Da Vinci group by clicking on activities and selecting d for discussion group.

The Recovery College summer timetable is now out. To get one phone 020 3214 5686 or 020 3214 5379 or

0800 0234 650

The trust has recently set up an Urgent Care Advice Line This Line provides crisis support, information, advice and signposting around mental health and learning disability services in the boroughs of Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster.

The line is open Monday to Friday from 5pm to 8am and is a 24 hour service at weekends and bank holidays. It is staffed by people who have been trained and are knowledgeable about different services and options. They will listen to your concerns, and will give you the support you need and ideas about what might be helpful to you.

If you are already receiving a service from CNWL, these staff will also be able to access information

The Time to Change grants fund will distribute £2.7 million to approximately 75 projects across England from April 2012 to March 2015. They are looking forward to supporting local communities to actively challenge stigma and discrimination around mental health in innovative ways.

The fund will support projects which:

• Change public attitudes and behaviour by bringing together people who have experienced mental health problems with those who have not.
• Engage the public or local communities in meaningful conversations about mental health. This could be through events, training, arts, sports – be creative!
• Are led throughout by people with lived experience of mental health problems – grants can only be awarded to constituted groups or organisations, but they will only fund projects which have people with experience of mental health problems in lead roles.

25% of the grants fund will be allocated to projects run by, and working with people from BME communities, and 20% are for projects working with children and young people.

How much is available? There will be a small minority of larger grants of around £85,000 awarded but the majority of funding will be medium and small grants of £40,000 and £20,000. More detailed information on grant levels will be provided when the fund opens in February.

When can you apply? The first round of applications was in February 2012 and grants were awarded in April/May. There will be another round in Autumn 2012 and two further rounds in 2013 – so there will be lots of opportunities to develop your ideas. Projects can be one to three years in duration for the first round.

To ensure you get the latest news and information on the grants fund:

Email  grants@time-to-change.org.uk to register your interest

Westminster Mind Flexicare Service is looking for voluntary befrienders to support people experiencing mental distress through companionship, conversation and practical support.

They provide you with training, support and supervision. This job would provide experience for a career in psychology, counselling or social care.

Please email at flexicare@westminstermind.org.uk or send a stamped addressed envelope to Flexicare, 4 Sutherland Avenue, London W9 2HQ

As well as our general service we are also seeking people with diverse language skills and backgrounds to work with people from particular ethnic groups. Please apply as above.

Portugal Prints is running a regular programme of Royal Academy visits and art making workshops as part of a regular, friendly and supported group. Get to see art exhibitions. learn more about art history and develop your drawing and painting skills.

Tel 020 7734 9212

Email pp@westminstermind.org.uk 

Housing 21 have produced a booklet - Living Well With Dementia - which is aimed at Westminster residents. It includes information on what dementia is, living well
with it, care services and support available and a list of useful contacts.

Click on the pdf below to see a copy of the booklet.

Living Well with Dementia (1.51 mb)