Posted on 18th Sep
Newark-based mental health and wellbeing charity Shawmind is relaunching its Breathe Café to provide nationwide support.
With social distancing rules continuing to limit the number of people who can meet up, the charity has turned its attention online for the ongoing provision of its regular Breathe Café group.
Between its launch and the end of 2019, the original Breathe Café, Pop-Up and Hub groups welcomed more than 400 individuals in a range of community spaces.
The open and accessible group will provide a safe space for people experiencing mental ill health and access to support and resources for their families and friends.
After an introduction from the charity manager, visitors will be encouraged to talk through their feelings, thoughts and worries with experienced Shawmind volunteers, who will be able to signpost to additional services in their communities and offer to be a listening ear in the coming weeks.
Su Hallam, charity manager at Shawmind, said: “Before lockdown we were regularly welcoming a number of new and regular visitors to our Breathe Café, Hub and Pop-Up groups in Newark, thanks to the support of a number of local venues and our wonderful volunteers.
“We have been holding on to the hope of being able to re-establish the groups, but with the situation as it is, we have decided to take the groups online, so that people can still get the reassurance, support and guidance they need, from the comfort of their own home.
“I’m really looking forward to taking the group online, so we can offer our support to people all over the UK, not just in our home town of Newark.”
Starting on Tuesday 22nd September the first Breathe Café will take place on Zoom from 7pm until 8.30pm. The group will then take place fortnightly, alternating between a lunchtime and evening meeting time.
To book onto the first group, register for your free place here: http://bit.ly/Shawmind. For details of all future events, please lookout for updates on the Shawmind social media pages.
For more information about Shawmind, its support services, its fundraising focus and how you can get involved, visit www.shawmind.org
