The Trust’s 12 Wellbeing Friends continue to introduce GP/Social Prescriber client referrals, some 80 to-date, to various activities and groups. From launch the team has built a strong administration and systems capacity to help volunteers offer a wide range of support and opportunities for clients. The Trust funded MIND in Mid Herts Outreach worker continues to operate yoga, walking, pottery (hugely popular) and a drop-in games café.
Frazzled Cafe – described as ‘small but beautifully formed’ – is building its number of regular attendees, with evident benefits to the participants from sharing how they feel and hearing that they are not alone in those feelings. We want to promote this facility and encourage people to come, whatever level of ‘frazzled’ they are, as the more participants to share and listen the more all get from the sessions.
Memory Lane Café is another successful partnership. The Trust approached the Town Council (who ran it pre-pandemic) and persuaded them to restart it in January with the support of the Salvation Army who offered their hall as a venue. The Council continues to fund and insure the café whilst all 3 partners provide volunteers. It is a rip-roaring success with activities such as African Drumming, Jubilee tea, flower arranging, aromatherapy and much more.
Arts on Prescription courses held on Wednesdays at the EMC are another great success. Courses are for 10-weeks and referrals come from the Social Prescribers. The current course is water colours. The positive comments come every week about how proud people are of their achievements and the pleasure the course offers.
30 May 2022
