Time to Change is supporting people to speak out about mental health problems in their communities this summer.
We asked people with experience of mental health problems to come forward to let us know what they’re doing to raise awareness about mental health and get people talking. As a result, we’ll now be helping eight teams of people to put on events that will spread Time to Change’s message and start conversations in their local communities.
We’ll be working with them in the run-up to their events to help them make sure things run smoothly on the day. With dedicated mentoring from our team of Regional Co-ordinators plus £500 to cover expenses such as venue hire, we hope that our support will turn their events into an extra fun – and engaging - day for all involved.
There’s a great range of activities happening throughout the summer: here’s a taster of what each event will have to offer…
The Feeling Tree (London), Sunday 17 July
The feeling tree travels to festivals around north London, where the public gets the chance to add their “leaves” – imprints of their hands made using many different shades of paint, with messages about mental wellbeing written on top.
Landmark Allotment Project (Kent), August
People with and without mental health problems come together for the day to help convert a disused allotment into a community garden.
organicARTS Garden Party (Exeter), mid August
A party thrown for the local community, with tea and cake and singing round a campfire, to show off the garden in this organic farm that is looked after by people with mental health problems.
See Us, Hear Us, Talk to Us (Stockport), Friday 26 August
An open day for the general public, where people with experience of mental health problems will showcase their media skills by playing their new internet radio show.
Flying a Kite for Time to Change (Kent), Thursday 15 September
People with and without experience of mental health problems from around Margate will make kites together and then fly the finished products at a local beauty spot overlooking the sea.
Wirral Whipiteres Roller Derby Day (Merseyside), Saturday 17 September
Merseyside-based Whipiteres will be hosting a Roller Derby (a contact sport played on roller skates) extravaganza, with teams competing from around the country. Members of the Whipiteres will have their mental health diagnoses written somewhere on their body as they compete, to show that people with mental health problems are more than just a label.
Sharing Voices Wellbeing Mela (Bradford), September
A day of food, activities and entertainment, which will bring people from different black and minority ethnic communities together so they can learn from each other through sharing their experiences of mental health and discrimination.
Asumjwe - Peace of Mind - African & Caribbean Women’s group (London), September
Women from African and Caribbean backgrounds come together to tell their stories through performance and through sharing pieces of art that they have made.
We’ll be posting interviews and photographs from each event as they happen!