Here at Shawmind we have lots of exciting events happening both in person and online between now and the end of 2020.
Here, our Project Coordinator, Hannah gives you the lowdown of what’s what, when, where, and how you can get involved!
Mindful Meander
Mindful Meander is a walking group based in Newark-on-Trent.
During lockdown, we received a number of calls for support from people feeling overwhelmingly isolated and lonely.
As restrictions eased, we launched a group that meets up for a wander round the local area, having friendly conversations and a bit of a laugh!
It’s great for meeting new people, finding support, and discussing any worries or concerns you have as the world begins to return to some form of normality.
All walks adhere to social distancing guidelines. Full details of what to bring with you can be found here.
When and where is it?
Groups meet up regularly during the week in Newark. Children and social dogs are welcome too!* (*at your own risk. We ask that pet owners take full responsibility for their animals whilst on the walk and Shawmind will not take any liability for injury caused to others or your pet during the course of the walk).
Sign me up!
If you want to come along to our Mindful Meander, please check out the next available date and register here.
ManCave
ManCave is a monthly meet-up where men can come along and meet other guys who have or have previously experienced mental ill health.
It’s a great place to meet new people, open up about what’s going on in your mind and find help and support.
We also have a great guest speaker each month, who will talk openly about their struggles and how they’ve managed and overcome them. These guest speakers are often happy to answer any of your questions and have a chat to.
ManCave is usually held at The Turquoise Teapot in Newark, however, owing to COVID19 we have moved it online via Zoom, which means you can join in wherever you are in the world.
ManCave runs on the middle Wednesday of the month. Click here to register your free place.
Breathe Café
Our Breathe Cafés are hubs where people can come along and have a chilled-out coffee and a chat.
Our team are on hand to discuss any issues you may be having with your mental health, and signpost you to appropriate guidance and support.
The Breathe Café’s are also a great way to meet other people who understand your feelings, and provide a relaxed, social environment. We also offer the “breakout room” facility too, so if you want to discuss something with one of our volunteers in confidence, let them know and you can zoom into the virtual meeting room.
When and where is it?
Pre-COVID19, our cafes ran locally in and around Newark, however, since then we have moved them online via Zoom, which means that you can now access support wherever you are in the country, from the comfort of your own home.
Sign me up!
Join the conversation, find support and meet new people at our Breathe Café, click here to register.
World Suicide Prevention Day
On Thursday 10th September 2020, we hosted FREE online Suicide Awareness Training for all, which was hosted on Zoom and Facebook LIVE.
Lasting just an hour, the session was short yet extremely informative and provided lots of information on how to spot signs of distress, and how to approach people who may be considering suicide.
Click here to view the session via our YouTube channel.
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
From Thursday 10th September 2020, Shawmind invited people to take part in its month-long activity to encourage gentle exercise, raise funds and increase awareness around suicide, mental health and wellbeing.
The campaign, Walk a Mile in My Shoes, aimed to get people thinking -and most importantly- talking to one another about mental health and emotional wellbeing while they walked a mile between World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) and World Mental Health Day on 9th October.
People simply headed out for a walk, on their own or with family or friends (whilst maintaining current social distancing guidelines) logged their walk on an app, such as Strava, and uploaded a photo to social media page, tagging three friends to then do the same.
Search the hashtag #WalkAMileInMyShoes to see their posts!
Although this campaign finished officially on the 9th October, there’s no reason why you can’t still take part. Simply follow the instructions above and get walking!
TIP: You can also use our Mindful Meander group to get your mile in, whilst having a natter and a laugh at the same time!
The campaign has raised just shy of £3,000 to date.
World Mental Health Day
This World Mental Health Day (9th October), Shawmind hosted a Teacher Wellbeing Panel discussion with individuals with a teaching background, looking to raise awareness for the need for more mental health training and support in schools for teachers.
Teachers are at the forefront of children and young people’s mental health and it is vital that they receive suitable training that enables them to provide the appropriate support for their students.
During the panel, we discussed the need for this training, areas for concern, and gave people the opportunity to ask questions around mental health within schools.
You can view the panel discussion now on our YouTube channel.
