MentalHealthNews

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Summer 2013

Welcome to our Summer 2013 newsletter Welcome to the Summer 2013 addition of the New Horizons’ Newsletter. We would like to extend warm wishes to service users, volunteers, partner organisations and supporters of New Horizons.

Since the Spring newsletter we have reached our first anniversary of using the Recovery Star model and have been in our Dean Street premises in Aberdare for just over a year. Plus we have been further developing Apple Tree Stores, and securing funding for the Youth Project and NH2 Creative Design Social Enterprise(see page 4).

We are pleased to continue expanding and developing our services and aim within the next year, to develop some of the services identified as needed at the Away Day (see page 3) over the next year.

WelcomeNew Horizons - Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Resource Centre

2013 Dates for your Diary

CYNONAberdare Centre

• Friday 20th September 10-12:30 - 2 week course - (WEA) Basic Communication Skills(OCN accredited)

• Friday 18th October 10-12:30 - 2 week course - (WEA)Confidence Building (OCN accredited) please see a members’ testimony for how they benefited from this course

• Art Workshop every Thursday 10am - 2pm

RHONDDAApple Tree Stores

• Art Workshop every Thursday 1pm - 3pm

• Depression Busting 8 week training programme. Starts in September call the centre to book your place.

• Friday 4th October Main RCT Event 10-3 Rhondda Sports Centre

• Tuesday 8th October New Horizons Open Day 1-4 Aberdare

• Wednesday 9th October Main Event in Merthyr Rhydcar Sports Centre.

• Wednesday 9th October Evening Event New Horizons quiz in Ton Pentre Rugby Club

• Thursday 10th October New Horizons Open Day 1-4 Apple Tree Stores

• Friday 11th October Morning Event Walk in the Park Pontypridd Park

“Nobody really knows about my depression and guess that in a sense makes it harder but those who do know help a lot like you all at New Horizons, it’s strange in away that I didn’t even know that the project existed yet it has helped loads and just allowed me to be myself and not have to keep it all hidden and building up more”

Quote from a service user about the youth project.

Youth Project - Cynon ValleyAs we are nearing the 6 month milestone of the youth project it gives us an opportunity to review the achievements of the project including feedback from the service users that have attended the project.

Since January 2013 there has been a youth project for 18-25 year olds every Thursday between 4-9pm at the Aberdare centre. The sessions have include peer support, internet cafe, art & craft, talks from partner services (including Interlink on volunteering, the detached youth services, and sexual health services) and Wii physical health activities.

During the 6 months we have increased the number of 18 -25 year olds using New Horizons’ services. Ten young people have accessed counselling and six people have gained an OCN in Confidence Building and seven young people participated in a new graffiti art project.

We are very pleased to confirm that the youth project will continue on a Monday in Aberdare and that a new project will be developed in the Rhondda in the Autumn.

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World Mental Health Week Events

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Too Good To Waste

Mental Health in Young PeopleTaking Steps to Raise Awareness of Mental Health in Young People.

On Saturday 25th May the Boncyff Pub organised a sponsored walk and charity evening in honour of the lives of Leah Evans and Rhys Murphy who tragically died last year.

The event was organised to raise awareness of mental health in young people and will illustrate to young people of Rhondda Cynon Taff, that there is help available and that and they do not have to suffer in silence.

In memory of Leah and Rhys both mothers led family, friends and members of New Horizons from the Boncyff Pub Cwmaman. It was a privilege to see the community come together to remember the two young people who attended Blaengwawr school together and show just how much people do care.

After the charity walk the Boncyff pub then held a fundraising evening in which patron Boyd Clack made a guest appearance to thank people for participating and talk about the effect mental illness can have on people’s lives, members of the community put on a “stars in your eyes” style performance and even seen members of the public (both male and female) do a head shave to raise more funds.

All money raised from the event is going to help support the youth project for 18-25 year olds suffering from mental health issues.

New Horizons was invited to attend the launch of the new training facilities at Too Good To Waste in Ynyshir, Rhondda in July 2013. We were also asked to facilitate at the launch a Mental Health Awareness session for staff and volunteers.

There were fifteen team members from Too Good To Waste on the mental health awareness training session and all found it very informative. They wanted to gain further knowledge and information, so they can support colleagues, friends and family who may suffer with mental ill health. Following this event New Horizons is in discussion with TGTW regarding developing further partnership working in the future.

We would like to express a massive thank you from all at New Horizons specifically those who attend the youth project to all who took part in the event and especially to Pam and Joe of the Boncyff for all their help in organising the event.

On the day several organisations were in attendance running various workshops and also showing the public how creative you can be with old furniture and breathing new life into it just by simply using sand paper, paint and transfers

Actress/Writer Ruth Jones from Stella/Gavin & Stacey was invited to show her support and present team members with gifts to say thank you for their loyalty and hard work they have shown TGTW over the years. Many members of the local community were present and GTFM provided music.

The new TGTW training facilities are funded by the Big Lottery Fund. It is a very modern and adaptable facility that caters for all forms of training. The training suite is not only for TGTW but for the whole community to use.

Fabulous examples of Art created by the Youth Project

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New Horizons’ Business Planning Away DayOn Friday 19th April 2013 service users, volunteers, staff and the management committee members met to take part in a business planning away day to celebrate our achievements over the last three years and to help inform our future directions.

The day opened with Vice Chair, Phil Gillard outlining the achievements we have made over the last three years and then we were asked by the facilitator, Billy Hardy (University of South Wales), to consider the following questions - Where are we now? What are our achievements? Where do we want to go from here? and what are the next steps?

The key themes that emerged from the day were

• The achievements over the last three years that need to be celebrated

• The value that new Horizons members put on using the “New Horizons” services

• How using the services help to increase confidence and self esteem

• How using the services reduces the risk of hospitalisation

• The need for additional services for young people living with mental health issues

• The need for additional services supporting people with eating disorders

• The impact of the current economic climate on future service delivery.

For a full report on the New Horizons away day please go to our website www.newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.uk

Five Minutes of Fame

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See if you can spot New Horizons Apple Tree Stores in the new series of Stella. Tidy Productions were filming on Apple Tree Avenue on Monday 13th May and might have captured our centre.

“It was nice to meet the committee we learn a lot of what goes on in the organisation (New Horizons) There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere followed by a nice buffet”

GJ & SP (Volunteer and Service User)

New Horizons Away Day

Feedback on the day

New Horizons is now registered with stamps for charity to generate funds.

We would appreciate it if all our supporters could cut the stamps off their received letters and bring them to New Horizons.

Should other Businesses/organizations wish to help out please get in contact as they can either send us the stamps or send them to ‘stamps for charity for us’ direct. Thanking you in advance.

Stamp Appeal

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NH2 offers a professional Web Development and Graphic Design service including-

• Logo Design• Stationery Design• Corporate branding• Promotional Flyers• Poster Design• Brochures• Annual Reports• Newsletters• Advertising• Start up packages for business (website and

corporate branding)• Web Design• Web Management• Web Development• Website Rebranding

NH2 Services

NH2 Creative DesignNH2 is an innovative social enterprise established by New Horizons.Building on the success of New Horizons in the local community and wider area, NH2 is here to offer a range of creative design services to other Third Sector organisations as well as small to medium size businesses.

NH2 has a commitment to and experience of service user engagement as an integral part of ensuring that all marketing materials (both web and graphic design) send out the correct message for an organisation. NH2 staff have experience of engaging with service users to create marketing materials and through this help create more involvement and engagement in projects.

NH2 also engages people who have experienced mental health issues as volunteers and through this they gain experience and skills to help increase their confidence and to prepare for a return to the workplace.

BusinessesOur team of experienced designers know how important it is to have a strong brand identity in todays challenging and competitive market.We offer our clients a professional creative design service. We offer cost effective solutions to your business or organisation.

Third Sector OrganisationsExperienced & SupportiveOur presence as a mental health charity enables us to provide expert knowledge and understanding of the Third Sector and partnership working.Engagement & ParticipationThis enables us to support our customers in a very unique way. We are experienced in engaging with Service Users in the design of marketing materials, web design and development.

We offer a range of creative design services and value for money. Call us today for a competitive quote on 01685 881113

If you are interested in volunteering on the project please call Claire on 01685 881113 or email: info@nh2creativedesigns.co.uk

All profits from NH2 go directly to New Horizons, we care about our community

and our customers and want to support our volunteers to have a better future.

“We asked New Horizons to design some marketing material for our project and we were very pleased with the result. Claire was really helpful and was happy to provide various possible examples of designs and modified our chosen one on several occasions following feedback from service users.”

Rachel WyattMental Health Service User Involvement Development OfficerInterlink

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NH2 Services

Ebay Project

Members’ PoetrySarah was inspired to write this poem for the World Mental Health Foundation Awareness week which they hold every May. The theme for 2013 was “let’s get physical” to highlight the importance of physical exercise on mental health and well-being. We hope all the people who took part in Rhys and Leah’s walk agree!

Physical exercise should be funSo why am I on a 10k run?I signed up with all the best intentionsDid I read it wrong or did the form not mention?I ponder this question as I’m jogging alongCompelled to keep going despite the rising pong.I am not alone in this ‘Race to Recovery’Brothers in arms, sweat n tears, united run next to me.So I dip my head and push on with might I will finish this race, the end is in sight.Yes physical activity should be funBut this feeling of achievement That’s what I’ve won.

By Sarah M. Davies 16/05/13

A Haikus poem written about happiness by Pamela Davies during creative writing.

“I am the dawn breaking,I am the birds singing,I am the snow falling,I am flowers in the meadow,I am happiness.”

Volunteers have re-established the Ebay Social enterprise and are selling the beautiful items made by New Horizons Art & Craft Group and unwanted items that people have donated to the centre.

When asked about the Ebay project volunteers who work on the project said “The benefit we gain are learning new computer skills, we contribute to the centre and help to purchase materials for the art & craft group that we enjoy.”

We are also looking for good quality clothing items to sell. However we have limited storage space so please do not donate bags of items. Should you wish to donate please bring them to the centre on a Tuesday 11am - 1pm.

Mental Health Support is a partnership project between New Horizons Mental Health and Emotional Well-being Resource Centre, LHB and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Mental Health Support aims to provide accessible advice and information about mental health issues and services to people with mental health problems, their carers, health professionals and anyone else with an interest in mental illness. We are always looking for Volunteers or even Virtual Volunteers. If you are looking for work experience or training, a boost in confidence and self-esteem, the opportunity to support others or to ‘give something back’, or just have some spare time...then come and help us! If you have time to spare and want to do something useful please get in touch and find out what Volunteering Opportunities are available. Join the websites Focus Group every Tuesday at 3pm in AberdareIf you haven’t already done so check it out at www.mentalhealthsupport.co.uk

Mental Health Support

“I enjoyed going to the MHS Focus Group because it allows me to interact with others in the group. If I did not attend the group I would be working at home feeling isolated”SBwww.rhondda-woodcraft.co.uk

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E-bookAre you interested in contributing to Mental Health Supports E-book? We are putting together an E-book. If you have suffered or are suffering from mental health issues would you like to write about it? The book will be a collection of stories, poems, peoples mental health journeys and letters.

New Horizons Creative Writing Group can help Every Tuesday at 10am you can come and join the group. There is also support for those who need it.For further information contact: Claire/Kristy on 01685 881113

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CYNON16 Dean Street, AberdareOpen on Monday, Tuesday

Thursday and FridayCheck our website for opening times

RHONDDAApple Tree Stores, Dinas

10am - 4pmEvery Tuesday,

Thursday & Friday Wednesday 10am - 1pm

HIRWAUNVolunteer led

peer support group Fridays 1pm - 4pmSt.Lleurwg’s Church

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NEW HORIZONSMental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Centre

Arts WorkshopNew Horizons has teamed up with artiscommunity to deliver free art workshops in both the Rhondda and Aberdare resource Centres.

Participants in the workshop will also have the opportunity to gain OCN qualifications and will learn how to sell online and as part of a group. To attend the group you must be 18+ and unemployed but NOT on a work programme or be receiving JSA.

For more information or to express your interest please contact Louise Shenstone on (01443) 490395 or email: louises@artiscommunity.org.uk or contact Kristy at New Horizons on (01685) 881113.

Communication Skills at AberdareFriday 20th September from 10-12:30 - this is a 2 week course facilitated by the WEA with OCN accreditation. To book your place please call the centre.

Confidence Building Skills at AberdareStarting Friday 18th October from10-12:30 - this is a 2 week course facilitated by the WEA with OCN accreditation. To book your place please call the centre.

Depression Busting at Apple Trees Stores RhonddaDepression Busting is an 8 week training programme that takes a holistic approach to overcoming depression to help you achieve recovery. The course will start in September. To book a place call 01443 681881.

Courses at New Horizons“I found this course friendly; it increased my confidence as I was very low at the time. The course helped me feel confident in re-engaging with family and friends, realising I am loved and cared about. Looking at the book I created that reminds me of happy times is useful and brings a smile to my face when I look at it. The course also helped me learn to appreciate the quiet times at home, instead of feeling lonely and down.”

AH Service UserWEA Confidence Building Course

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“I thought I already new a lot about my mental health and the services that are available, especially as I have suffered for many years. Although to my surprise I found out a lot more about my mental health, understanding of my diagnosis and symptoms. The course is well worth attending whether new to mental health services or not.”

KH Service UserGofal’s Routes to Recovery Course hosted by New Horizons

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New Horizons 16A Dean Street, Aberdare CF44 7BNTel: 01685 881113Email: info@newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.ukwww.newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.uk

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