Since lockdown began, I have been working from home – in my bedroom!

It’s been an extremely stressful time for me and I’ve been quite anxious. At the start I felt I had no confidence and felt under a lot of pressure. I’ve been finding it difficult without the support of my work environment. I find it quite hard to adjust to and accept change, and this has been a big change for me and has affected me in many ways.

Life for me is now completely different, I don’t have a routine and it’s making me quite anxious.

The Workable (NI) programme has helped me through constant telephone contact and the knowledge someone is still there. Staying in touch with Nicola (AMH Employment Support Officer – Workable N.I.) has helped me a lot. I contacted her quite a bit at the start of the Coronavirus apedemic, when I was feeling extremely stressed and nervous. Nicola has helped me so much to settle into home working. She helped to calm me down and made me feel like I had her for support.

Going forward it is reassuring to know that Workable will be continuing to provide support and be there for me.

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Rachel has been receiving support on the Workable N.I. programme since January 2017, and works as a Social Media Advisor for BT.

AMH is one of seven partners within the SES – Supported Employment Solutions consortium.  SES is contracted to deliver the Department for Communities Workable (NI) Programme across Northern Ireland and has brought together disability organisations to provide specialist employment supports to people with a range of disabilities and health conditions.

The SES partners include AMH and Cedar (Lead Partners), Mencap, Orchardville, NOW, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss.

SES Aims to offer a Supported Employment approach in the delivery of programs to assist people with disabilities and health conditions to enter and stay in employment.

The Workable (NI) Programme is funded by the Department for Communities.

For more information – visit their website http://www.sesni.org.uk/

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

This year, people across the country are continuing to face new challenges as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.

They need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, and provided with information, support and understanding.

So during Carers Week, we’re coming together to help Make Caring Visible.  https://www.carersweek.org/

During Carer’s Week AMH Menssana will be delivering ‘open’ Mindset sessions aimed at adults (18yrs+) within youth & community settings across the Northern, Western, Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas. Find out more and register on Eventbrite https://bit.ly/3eAx9Nw

Mindset is funded by the Public Health Agency

AMH MensSana’s Michael McLeane will be hosting a webinar as part of the Western Health & Social Care Trust’s Carer’s Week activities.

Carers must register for these events in advance. Once registered a link and password/pin will be emailed to access the online event.

Please email: [email protected]

Or call 028 6634 4163 or 028 7135 5023

AMH New Horizons Foyle is promoting the Western Trust Carers events to clients with daily text alerts all next week via sinch. 

In addition AMH Foyle are encouraging carers to register for AMH Foyle’s virtual mental health support via our website (ref. #OK02B0k).

AMH Foyle have made a pledge to offer virtual support for carers in Derry-Londonderry. Information will be available on the following websites : Carers NI and Western Health Trust.

In addition our AMH Employment Officer will be hosting a morning with clients informing them about an opportunity to be a carer rep.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is seeking 1 carer representative to join the RCPsych in Northern Ireland Devolved Council as Workers.  The successful applicant will have recent lived experience of caring for someone with mental illness. The Carer Representative will be an integral member of the committee working with the chair and vice chair, to engage the wider membership and partner organisations in advocating for the Devolved Council patient group. Find out more here.

As we near the end of National Volunteer Week we acknowledge the support and commitment of all our volunteers in Action Mental Health.  Time is the greatest gift that anyone can give and AMH volunteers make a difference in the lives of others.  Hughena Gregory and Kirsty Reilly are two of our volunteer stalwarts who have supported AMH New Horizons North Down & Ards over many years.  Selwyn Johnston, Service Manager has paid tribute to their dedication and  warm welcome they have for each and every client or visitor on arrival to the New Horizons service.  Both have also been involved with supporting fundraising events for the service and look forward to returning to their volunteer roles in the near future.  He noted that volunteers are unpaid…not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.    

Mr Mowbray, who was known as Robin, died unexpectedly in hospital on May 25. He leaves behind wife Denise, children Craig, Stewart, Bruce and Jilly, and six grandchildren.

Mr Mowbray, late of Millfort Green in Banbridge, joined the board of AMH as a Director in 2006 and served as Vice-Chair and a member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

In business he had been in partnership with an HR consultancy firm and previously an HR Director of major UK drinks firm, Bass Ireland.

Robert will be sorely missed by all of us at Action Mental Health. We are grateful for his support and friendship over the years and send our love and condolences to his family and friends.

AMH New Life Counselling is indebted to a highly skilled and generous bank of volunteers who provide vital counselling to people from all walks of life in Northern Ireland.

With an average of approximately 16 volunteers annually helping people in need of the counselling service, these roles are filled by a diverse range of people, ably assisted by students in training in relevant fields at Northern Ireland’s universities and colleges. 

AMH New Life Counselling Assistant Team Leader, Gail Calwell, who oversees and supports the volunteers explained the volunteers’ vital roles: “Many of our volunteers are fully trained counsellors who could work in any professional counselling service.  But while they have many different day jobs, from nurses, teachers and those who work for other counselling or addiction services – they give up their own, personal time to counsel people for Action Mental Health. 

“Our volunteer team also includes students working towards their counselling or therapeutic qualification and whom welcome the support that AMH New Life Counselling offers in the way of building upon client experience and skills.  We value our students greatly and the enthusiasm and keenness to learn that they bring to the organisation.  The volunteers support anywhere from 1 client per week to 4 clients per week.

“They are a vital resource to us, helping us to deliver counselling within the community” she added.

May is routinely the month in which AMH New Life Counselling recruits its volunteers but with the coronavirus pandemic that annual campaign has had to be put on hold this year.   

Volunteer Mary Rooney said: “Volunteering gives me the opportunity to continually expand my knowledge, skills and experience and along the journey I have the satisfaction of supporting people to lean towards good mental health by better understanding their life experiences and the impact it has had on how they relate to others.”

Fellow volunteer, Carole Chambers added:”It’s great to be part of a very supportive organisation and to help my clients progress and improve the quality of their lives.”

“I volunteer because of the flexibility and freedom with regards to how I can support clients.  It allows me to work more long term and to see the benefits this way of working can bring.  I also love being part of the volunteering community within AMH New Life Counselling,” said Hollie McAllister, another volunteer.

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AMH New Life Counselling is an Organisational Member of BACP and adheres to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

Gardening has been the saving grace of many people during the lockdown, with the benefits to people’s mental health being well-charted at the moment.

At AMH Promote, our green-fingered hero Andy Meaney has for two years been volunteering his time in the garden, ensuring clients reap the rewards of witnessing tiny seeds take root and prosper, alongside their own progress and development.

Since starting at the Bangor-based Service, Andy has been part of the production of vegetables grown in our raised beds that are destined for the popular Soup Club.  

Alongside all varieties of vegetables, from beetroot, garlic, onions, sweetcorn, potatoes, carrots, parsley, peas and herbs, to fruit, including tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries, AMH Promote clients get hands-on experience in soup-making, and also utilise them for a variety of healthy eating courses.

AMH Promote Service Manager, Naoibh Adams commented: “Andy works every other Friday morning and always has plenty to keep him occupied! During the lockdown Andy has continued to water and tend to the vegetables so they’ll be nice and healthy for our eventual return to our Service.”

“I find the work at Promote very rewarding although I rarely get to taste the end products!” Andy quipped.

Away from the garden Andy enjoys camping, fishing ­– always returning the fish to the water – walking and all sports. He is a fan of Manchester United and an avid music lover. He currently lives in Newtownards with his wife and two children.

The reasons for volunteering are manifold. Volunteering provides vital help to people and groups in need, worthwhile causes and your community. 

But the benefits don’t stop there and during national Volunteers’ Week 2020 we at Action Mental Health are taking the opportunity to show how volunteering can actually improve your own mental health and well-being.

Studies have shown that volunteering is beneficial at combatting stress, depression and anxiety. It can also help to keep you mentally stimulated, improve your self-confidence and provide you with a sense of purpose. 

By volunteering at Action Mental Health, you will meet like-minded people who are passionate about making a positive difference to people’s mental health and well-being.

It’s an excellent opportunity to boost your career prospects by enhancing your CV or UCAS application and help you stand out from the crowd. It could even help older school children, those in sixth form and colleges, give them up a step up on life skills achievements like the Duke of Edinburgh award, for example.

Volunteering helps boost your own well-being. According to the Public Health Agency the act of giving is one of five evidence-based steps – and one of the Five Ways to Well-Being – that we can take to improve our mental well-being. Giving to others stimulates the reward areas in the brain, creating positive feelings.  Read for yourself how it can benefit you: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/give-for-mental-wellbeing/

It will help teach your children about the impact of giving back to the community. Children watch everything you do, so, by following your example, it will give them first-hand experience of the benefits of volunteering, both to those on the receiving end, and to themselves.  Volunteering also provides people with an opportunity to gain valuable new skills, knowledge and experience – such as communication, problem solving and teamwork.

A volunteer with culinary flair who is sorely missed

This year Action Mental Health Promote said a very fond farewell to Ken Webster who had been a volunteer since 2009.  Ken’s connection with Promote began though his son Alan, who still attends the Service, when he worked as an employed bus driver in 2007 following his retirement from the Army. 

He then left and returned in 2009 to volunteer, starting with odd jobs and gardening but progressing the following year to work in the kitchen. Ken volunteered for two days a week, helping to provide daily lunches for the clients. 

Bidding farewell to the service, Ken commented: “I enjoyed all aspects of my work at Promote but especially the relationships with the clients who have become part of my life – seeing them grow older and move on during my tenure.”

Service Manager for Promote, Naoibh Adams said Ken was much appreciated in the kitchen.

“Ken became part of Promote’s ‘dreamteam’, baking and preparing for the monthly coffee mornings.  Ken was a key part of this and dropped down to Promote, to volunteer solely for the coffee mornings in later years. 

“Whilst gathering information from Ken, he pointed out that his son Alan was keen for his father’s shortbread to get a mention as well – we all loved it. Ken finally hung up his apron for the last time after our last coffee morning last November and is sorely missed by all. He hasn’t disappeared completely however, as he collects Alan daily and is also our unofficial handy man when required!”

Every year charities like Action Mental Health rely on the support of their loyal band of volunteers who go that extra mile to help other people and support their local community.

This year, as the effects of the global pandemic continue, life is very different and unfortunately many regular volunteering activities can’t happen due to social distancing restrictions.

But as National Volunteering Week 2020 begins today, we still want to say a very big thank you to all those lovely people of all ages who have generously volunteered their time and efforts to help support our work and also help us raise vital funds for our vital services over the last year.

Vital Support

Nikki Middlesworth began her voluntary work with Promote ­– or Promote Action as it was called in April 2000 – so we are delighted that this is her twentieth year with us! Nikki had a car accident which left her paralysed from the chest down, and a year later she undertook a programme called the Vote Project, which led to a three month voluntary placement with Promote Action – and the rest is history. 

Prior to her accident Nikki had worked for Praxis, with people reintegrating to the community after staying in Muckamore Abbey Hospital for people with learning disabilities and mental ill health.  Her placement in Promote in 2000 reignited her love of working with Adults with Learning Disabilities and she found a purpose again.

When Nikki started she volunteered in Promote’s original building in Ballyholme when the  centre was very different, although some of the clients then are still in the current Service.  Nikki said the move to the new purpose built building – at Conlig – was like breath of fresh air, as it was spacious, wheelchair accessible and fit for purpose. Nikki reflected that the current service is much more person-centred and that clients views are considered, which would not have been the norm 20 years ago.  What hasn’t change for Nikki is the love of the work.

Nikki said: “I get so much from being part of the Promote ‘family’. It is truly the only place where everyone is equal, and there is no discrimination. I also really enjoy seeing the clients develop.”

Service Manager Naiobh Adams added: “Nikki is a vital help, supporting activities within the Service from art to computers, to her key role supporting Promote’s annual Pantomine.  We wish to thank Nikki for her contribution and hope she remains with us as long as possible!”