December 2016 BULLETIN
Hello All,
This will be my final bulletin as Editor as I lake some time out to focus on my full time
employment and welcome a new baby in February. It has been a really emotional experience to put this one together and reflecting on past issues I can only say how proud I am
to have been able to contribute to the MHNE message and journey these past 2 years.
Thank you all for reading them! My work at MHNE has been a valuable part of my own
recovery and I am so grateful to the friends I have made and the wonderful experiences
and opportunities I have been lucky enough to be part of.
It is a fantastically exciting time for MHNE and the mental health sector in general and I
wish you all a happy festive season and the very best for 2017 and beyond.
Victoria McGowan (MHNE Bulletin Editor/Volunteer)
2-3. MHNE News
4-5. Local and National Mental
Health News
6. External Self Help Information
7-9. Regional Mental Health
Events and Opportunities
9-10. Funding Opportunities
11. MHNE Contact Details
Kevan Jones MP attends the opening of the Greening
The Gap project with Lyn Boyd and Neil Kelly
MHNE News
October’s 10th Birthday and Greening the Gap launch continues to attract attention with and article
in the Derwentside Advertiser following the event which ran under the headline: MP helps launch
new
mental
health
project
in
Stanley
by
Tony
Kearney
(For
source
please
see:
www.consettstanleyadvertiser.co.uk)
A MENTAL health charity has marked its 10th anniversary with the launch of a new project. MP Kevan
Jones planted a tree on Friday to launch Greening The Gap, a project set up by Mental Health North East
(MHNE) and Muddy Boots, a venture set up by charity chief executive Lyn Boyd and her family. Using a 14-
acre smallholding near Stanley, the innovative project will allow more people to enjoy the emotional benefits of spending time outdoors. The project, partially funded by the Big Lottery, will allow people with mental
health issues develop confidence and skills
in the tranquillity of the countryside.
Ms Boyd said: “A study from the University
of Essex showed that simply walking in the
countryside can provide real benefits to
mental health and wellbeing. We believe
our project can offer a low cost, effective
alternative therapy to psychiatric drugs.”
Kevan Jones added: “In often very difficult
circumstances, MHNE has worked to enSUPPORT: Kevan Jones MP attends the opening of the Greening
The Gap project
sure vital support is provided to some of
the most vulnerable people in our communi-
ties. “The new Greening the Gap project is a very interesting new venture, and I look forward to seeing how
this develops.”
Mental Health North East was recently threatened with closure when it lost most of its funding. Chair Neil
Kelly said: “We couldn’t just walk away and abandon the people who needed us, so we developed new
ways to raise income. We have used our first-hand experience to run courses that help employers understand the reality behind mental health myths”.
This comes as the BBC News website ran an article 10th November titled Scouts and guides provide
'mental health boost for life' which highlighted the benefits of the outdoors and physical activity on mental
health. For article please see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37923133
MHNE News
MHNE Volunteer Gareth Attends November AHSN Summit on Wednesday 9th November at
Durham County Cricket Club, Chester le Street
In the last few years mental health and wellbeing services in primary care have attracted increasing interest
and the importance of primary care is becoming ever more apparent in helping individuals to manage their
mental health and personal wellbeing. The Summit offered an opportunity for primary care staff and others
in the health and care sectors to network and learn more about tools and techniques that could assist in their
day to day work. The workshops on offer to attendees included Mood Disorder Pharmacology, What does
Data tell us about Mental Health in the North East? Living Well and the Self-care Development Wheel, The
Virtual Recovery College and Identification and
Treatment of Depression in Patients with Long
Term Conditions.
The Academic Health Science Network for the
North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC) is
dedicated to improving healthcare, driving wealth
MHNE Volunteer Victoria Gives a Presenta-
creation
tion to NDUH A&E
and
promoting
research
participation
across the region.
The AHSN NENC is part of a national network of 15
One of the presenters from the AHSN event was Dr
AHSNs that have been set up across the country by Philippa Bolton — Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist
the Department of Health to identify, adopt and dis- TEWV NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for
seminate innovative healthcare in the NHS.
They have programmes of work established or in
development on Respiratory Care, Fractures, Elder-
Mental Health in the Northern England Clinical Network. On 25th November she led a training session
for frontline A&E staff at the University Hospital of
ly Care, Atrial Fibrillation and Mental Health. There North Durham at which MHNE volunteer Victoria
are also cross-cutting programmes on Patient Safe- was a guest speaker with lived experience, having
ty, Medicines Optimisation, Telehealth and Patient been a frequent attender at A&E in 2015 she is now
and Public Involvement
in her 6th month of recovery from BPD following
All the programmes have, or are working up, en-
interventions led by Dr Bolton and several key life-
gagement strategies, interventions, and partner- style changes.
ships with industry. The managerial and clinical
leadership of the programmes are responsible for Victoria said: “It was very difficult to return to a
developing measurable impacts and returns on in- place that held such bad memories but it was imvestment.
www.ahsn-nenc.org.uk
portant to me to see where I am now after all the
help they gave me and hopefully to be able to give
something back towards helping others in distress.”
Local Mental Health News
TEWV Recruits New Cohort of Expert By Experience
“Within TEWV we believe that we need to work alongside people who have used our services and listen to what they have to say so we can learn how services can be developed
and improved. As part of the recovery programme within the Trust, we have created a
Recovery Expert by Experience role to help us put lived experience at the heart of service improvement and development.“ (TEWV recruitment advert from November 2016)
Interviews took place in Darlington for this 5th cohort on Wednesday 14 December 2016
but if you are interested in further information about the scheme or joining the mailing list
for future consideration please contact: Emma Walton, Recovery Programme Administrator [email protected]
Street teams halve mental health-related arrests in North East (BBC News, 22nd
November)
Street teams of nurses and police have halved the number of mental health-related arrests. In the North East about 1,200 people are detained under the Mental Health Act
each year. But a two-year study found that the teams delivering street triage had cut this
amount to about 600 a year.
Newcastle University researchers, publishing in the BMJ Open, said the project meant
options other than arrest were considered. Researchers also found it cost the NHS, local
authorities, ambulance and police services a combined total of more than £1,600 to hold
someone in custody for three to four hours.
Pregnant women and new mums in mental health funding boost (BBC News, 26th
November)
Twenty areas across England are to receive funding to provide more support for pregnant women and new mothers with severe mental health problems. NHS England is
spending £40m on doctors and other specialist mental health workers as part of its drive
to help 30,000 more women by 2021.Some of the 20 areas to receive a share of the
£40m include Bristol, Birmingham and Northumberland. For full article please see: http://
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38105222
National Mental Health News
Child mental health money not making frontline (BBC News, 15th November 2016)
Money earmarked to boost mental health provision for children in England is failing to
make it to front-line services, a new report suggests. The government last year pledged
£1.4bn for child mental health by 2020, but a report says millions of pounds is being
used to offset NHS cuts elsewhere. (Read full article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
health-37983593)
'Picking up the pieces' from social problems costs billions (Northern Echo, 17th
November 2016)
Society is spending £17 billion a year "picking up the pieces" from social problems like
domestic violence, abuse and neglect, unemployment and youth crime in England and
Wales,
according
to
a
new
report.
(Read
full
article
at:
http://
www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/picking-up-the-pieces-from-social-problems-costsbillions-charity-1-7683906)
Plea to Government over mental health service improvements (Northern Echo,
18th November 2016)
Every former health secretary of the past 20 years has signed an open letter voicing
"alarm and dismay" at the Government's failure to deliver on promises to improve services for mental health patients. (Read full article at: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/
news/14913810.Plea_to_Government_over_mental_health_service_improvements/)
My Baby, Psychosis and Me, and its VMG Mind Award. Probing the underlying issues. (NSUN, November 2016)
Linked to the themes of the article in our local news round up an intimate documentary
that reveals the frightening rollercoaster journey of two mums for whom childbirth triggers postpartum psychosis, one of the most severe forms of mental illness, has won a
Mind Media Award. Read an article reflecting on this at: http://www.nsun.org.uk/news/
blogs/my-baby-psychosis-and-me-and-its-mind-media-award/ and the powerful BBC
documentary
can
be
viewed
v=9obFOonNENk&feature=youtu.be
at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://relationships.carers.org/
Personality Disorder Consensus Statement Survey
Your views are needed to find out what people who identify with the issues and difficulties associated with the diagnosis of personality disorder want in terms of improvements to service
provision. The data collected will be used to form a 'consensus statement'. This anonymous
survey is intended to be filled in by those who have been diagnosed with personality disorder
or identify with the difficulties associated with this diagnosis or commonly used phrases such
as complex needs, trauma related difficulties, complex PTSD etc. It should take between 5 to
10 mins to complete. Complete the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/M8BL8DT
Training: Carer
Awareness for
Professionals
Information sessions are a great opportunity to visit out Centre, learn about our
work and issues affecting carers.
The
session
the
second
is
usually
Tuesday
held
of
on
every
month, 10:30am—11:30am. The next is
Tuesday 13 December
If you are interested in attending a session contact us on: Tel. 0191 275 5060,
SMS. 07874 100043.
Coping with Christmas workshop
The next session of the HOPE group, which meets
from 5.30-7.30pm on the first Thursday of the
month, will be a workshop on Coping with Christmas on Thursday 1st December 2016. New members welcome.
Mental Health Topic workshops January-May 2017
The programme for our forthcoming mental health topic workshops is now available:
Assertiveness - Wed 25th January
Promoting Resilience - Wed 22nd February
A Good Night's Sleep - Wed 22nd March
Challenging Negative Thoughts - Wed 19th April
Self Care - Wed 17th May
All these sessions are for women with eating distress aged 16+ and are free. To book your
place on any of the workshops, please email [email protected] or ring 0191 221 0233 so
that we have an idea of numbers.
NORTH EAST BE THE
CHANGE NETWORK
Tuesday 6th December 2016 from 9:45am to 3:00pm
Alington House Community Association , 4 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3ET
Register and see agenda at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-east-be-the-changenetwork-tickets-29145982418?
Funding Opportunities
Co-op Local Community Fund
We're looking for 3 projects in each of around 1,500 local communities across the UK. We'll choose
projects led by small, locally based organisations that benefit the local community centred around
Co-op food stores and funeral homes, have the greatest possible benefit to their community and
make maximum use of the amount of funding available. Please see: https://causes.coop.co.uk/?
_ga=1.86963674.397452584.1478102284&utm_source=LINX+445++10+November&utm_campaign=LINX445&utm_medium=email
Bags of Help Grant
Bags of Help is now is always open to applications from community projects. Groundwork assesses all of the applications received to ensure they are eligible. This is followed up by Tesco
shortlisting groups who decide which projects go forward to the in-store vote. Three local community projects will be voted on in Tesco stores each month across Tesco regions throughout England,
Scotland
and
Wales.
Please
see:
http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/
tescocommunityscheme/pages/Category/apply-for-a-boh-grant-tes2?utm_source=LINX+445++10+November&utm_campaign=LINX445&utm_medium=email
Jill Franklin Charitable Trust
Grants are typically £500 to £1000 to help self help groups, advice, training, and employment; to
support people with a mental illness or learning difficulties , and their carers (parents etc.), respite
care, and holidays and organisations helping and supporting refugees and asylum-seekers coming
to
or
are
in
the
UK.
Please
see:
http://newsletter.community-matters.org.uk/?
id=578&month=October&year=2016&utm_source=LINX+445++10+November&utm_campaign=LINX445&utm_medium=email
Funding Opportunities
Woodward Charitable Trust (UK)
Applications are welcomed from UK registered charities working addressing a wide range of social
issues. This includes children and young people who are isolated, at risk of exclusion or involved
in anti-social behaviour, projects that help the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and/or
ex-offenders, disadvantaged women, covering refuges, domestic violence and parenting, disability
projects, which can include rehabilitation and training for people who are either physically disabled or learning disabled, arts outreach work by local groups involving disadvantaged people and
projects that promote integration and community cohesion amongst minority groups, including
refugees and travellers. The fund offers grants of up to £5,000 through their small grants scheme
and grants of over £5,000 through their large grants scheme. The closing date for applications is
the 16th December 2016. Please see: http://woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk/general_applications/
DAYCO Fund (County Durham)
Voluntary youth and community organisations in County Durham (excluding Darlington) who are
looking to promote development and long term sustainability (3-5 years) within their organisation
can now apply for funding of between £250 and £5,000 from the DAYCO fund. Examples of the
types of activities that can be funded include training for staff, trustees and volunteers, marketing/
branding costs, equipment costs, fund raising/bid writing training and website costs. Applications
can be submitted at any time however funding is limited and will be assessed on a first come first
served basis. Please see: http://www.cdcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/grants-for-groups/page/2
Coalfields Regeneration Trust Investment Programme Opens for Applications (England)
The Coalfields Community Investment Programme make grants of up to £10,000 (£5,000 for capital
costs) to community groups that help people gain the skills they need in order to increase their
opportunities, increase the number of people in work and improve the health and wellbeing of all
age groups. The closing date for this funding round is the 12th December 2016. Please see: http://
www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/what-we-do/social-investment/coalfields-community-investment/
Funding to Help Homeless Charities (UK)
The next closing date for applications to Help the Homeless is the 15th December 2016. Funding of
up to £5,000 is available to small and medium sized charities and voluntary organisations towards
capital costs to support projects that assist disadvantaged individuals in their return to mainstream society, through residential or training facilities. Please see: http://www.help-thehomeless.org.uk/applying-for-funding/
Contact Details
About Us
Mental Health North East (MHNE) is a unique network of member organisations, formed in 2005 to
promote joint working and partnership across the
not for profit mental health sector in the North East
of England. Today, MHNE is a unique network that
offers access to over 450 voluntary and community
MHNE
Birtley CDC,
Drum Park Lane Industrial Estate
Chester Le Street
Co Durham
DH2 1AE
organisations working in the field of mental health
and wellbeing in the North East, Cumbria and North
0191 411 1962
Yorkshire.
[email protected]
Our organisation is built around a core belief that a
[email protected]
strong, vibrant, diverse, yet united voluntary and
Find us Online:
community sector is essential for the development
of mental health services and for the improvement
of the emotional health and wellbeing of this region.
MHNE works collectively with members to improve
and protect mental health service provision. We
www.mhne.org.uk
@MHNEtweets
www.facebook.com/groups/
mentalhealthnortheast/
pride ourselves on having an open mind to innova-
For further information on this bulletin
tive approaches which will enable people suffering
or to place information in any future is-
from mental distress to move quickly towards recov-
sues please contact:
ery.
[email protected]