LOCALS URGED TO DROP IN FOR COFFEE AND A CHAT

People living in Eastmoor, Agbrigg and Belle Vue have the chance to develop a new service being offered by the South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust.

The Trust has employed two mental health development workers, Koser Begum and Tracy Parker and they are based at St Swithens Community Centre in Eastmoor. They are now keen to get people from the local community involved.

An informal coffee morning is being held at St Swithens Community Centre on 8th July 2003, 9am-12noon. People living in the local community are encouraged to drop in for a coffee and a chat.

Speaking about the coffee morning, Tracy said, ‘Anybody can come along and chat to us, and each other. Whether they have experienced a mental health problem themselves or have had contact with someone who has. They do not have to have used local services, but are equally welcome if they have done. There are simply no restrictions on who can come along, just anyone who is interested in mental well-being’.

Following the coffee morning, it is hoped that a variety of groups and meetings can be set up and Tracy and Koser will train volunteers to facilitate the meetings. Tracy added, ‘The type of meetings and groups we hold in the future will depend entirely on what people tell us they want’.

Koser said, ‘Often people can feel isolated in their homes and in the community. We want to develop a service that encourages them to influence their surroundings and combat the stigma that surrounds mental health problems. We hope to provide people with an effective voice for shaping services for the future as well as looking after their own mental well-being, and we’d welcome anyone at our coffee morning’.