Ken Webster (right) with one of the clients at AMH Promote
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!”
A popular member of the kitchen team, Ken (back left) is pictured with some of the gang from AMH Promote
Nikki (right) with some of the clients at AMH Promote
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, far left, with Promote clients in Bangor where she’s been volunteering for 20 years
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!”
We hear from another one of our clients from the Workable programme, who has been receiving support since July 2019.
Here they tell us how life has changed, but how the support they receive from Action Mental Health through the Workable programme is so vital.
From my usual 5-day routine in an office, to now 1 day in the office and 4 at home, this has really messed me up! I loved the routine. Fortunately Robert from AMH Workable is still there. He has even got Zoom and Google Meet going just to keep tabs 😊
My confidence is through the floor since Mr Corona came to town, although I can still get by on with my role, at the minute I have no interest in exceeding or expanding my knowledge. I miss the office routine, the guys I work with are all on the same page, so banter is a rife! That’s gone now, at home there’s only barking dogs!
The job is ticking over, most resources are there, but the physical aspect of just grabbing something to sort is gone, which is another blow to the confidence.
With no routine, I sometimes walk about feeling “lost”, just watching TV or sittin on reddit just to keep my mind occupied. I still have showers, get ready every day for work on time, dinnertime and bedtime still exist, but not going out for a rake in the motor sucks! Restrictions ruined that fun.
But my AMH Employment Support Officer, Robert, is always there. Every time I engage with him I’ll get a response, plus he’ll proactively launch a Zoom/Google Meet meeting to catchup. Work never question it which is nice too.
He’s always just a phone call, text or e-mail away. It’s amazing having someone there to “take the edge off”, he knows me and what grinds my gears. Even without face to face comms Robert is still able to help make me see sense. Plus the work he’s done in the background (I’ve little knowledge of the magic 😊), but he’s engaged with the Community Mental Health team, my doctor, my employer and pretty much everyone to give them a nudge. This has helped to the point that I now have a key worker, took me 34 years on my own, took Robert 6 months, fair play!
Without sounding rude, who knows what the future holds. The world has been turned upside down by Covid, I fear the unknown and this is killing me!
But what Robert in AMH Workable is doing at the minute, keep it up, maybe face to face will be a thing soon. Robert is steering this ship of mine in the right direction and I couldn’t be more grateful.
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.
Mindset, Healthy Me and Provoking Thought Group Sessions Now Available on-line
– Scroll down to find out more!
The Mindset programme from Action Mental Health has moved to online delivery.
Due to Government guidance the programme can not be delivered face-to-face at this time but our team have adapted the programme so it can be delivered on-line and you don’t miss out!
Mindset is open to youth and community groups across the Northern, Western, Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas for groups of 6-12 people.
It aims to:
Raise awareness and increase knowledge and understanding of Mental and Emotional Health and Well-being
Raise awareness of signs and symptoms of mental ill health
Promtoe self-help/resilience techniques and how to maintain a safe level of positive mental and emotional health and well-being
promote self-care
information and/or resouces on mental health syupport organisations available (locally & regionally)
The on-line programme can be delivered in a format to suit participant needs and will be agreed prior to booking confirmation –
A one-off interactive workshop – the full Mindset programme – Duration : 3 hours (with breaks)
Mindset Sessions – the full Mindset programme in bite size chucks – Duration : 2 or 3 sessions over separate days
For more information or to register your interest contact
Healthy Me for Parents, Carers and Teachers of Young Children
Suitable for: groups of key adult contacts (parents, carers or school staff) of children aged 8-11 (P5-P7) Duration: 1 hour (delivered as 1x1hour or 2x30mins sessions)
Healthy Me aims to:
help support how to start conversations about mental health
raise awareness of signs/symptoms of mental ill-health
teach self-care techniques for building resilience and confidence
show how and where to access support (locally & regionally)
Suitable for: pupils aged 8-11 (P5-P7) within Primary School or Community & Youth Groups Duration: 30 mins
A vibrant engaging programme, Healthy Me aims to:
improve social and emotional well-being through use of coping skills and managing feelings
develop self-help skills
encourage help-seeking behaviour
promote the correlation between mental and physical health
promote the Five Ways to Well-being
support transition from primary to secondary school
Activity sheets will be available to reinforce learning. Staff or volunteers can receive information on how to promote positive emotional well-being and sources of support.
The saying goes, ‘charity begins at home’ but when that sentiment is extended out into the wider community we all benefit.
Today, we wind up Mental Health Awareness Week – in a week which has seen considerable charity towards Action Mental Health. Individuals, families and businesses have found it in their hearts to give, even during the lockdown, through fundraising events and participating in the Great Big Purple Picnic. This was also the week that we were delighted to formally announce a new corporate partnership, with Mash Direct, based in Comber, Co Down, for which we are extremely grateful.
Giving is one of The Five Ways to Well-Being – five tried and tested steps devised to promote better mental health. According to the Public Health Agency, giving to others stimulates the reward areas in the brain, creating positive feelings. Read for yourself how it can benefit you here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/give-for-mental-wellbeing/
Giving, in all its forms, not only benefits those you help, but also instils feelings of improved well-being. Studies have shown that giving is beneficial for combating stress, depression and anxiety and also serves to keep you mentally stimulated, improve your self-confidence and provide you with a sense of purpose.
Being charitable 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 being charitable.
For charities like Action Mental Health, the act of giving can be done through the likes of donations, fundraising and volunteering. No matter what your situation, there are myriad ways you can volunteer your time and efforts towards volunteering.
By volunteering with Action Mental Health you’ll be helping to raise money and awareness to help change the lives of those living with mental ill-health and promoting resilience and well-being to future generations.
For more information on volunteering with Action Mental Health email [email protected]
So the saying goes – and for good reason; we all know the joy a good, full-on belly laugh cab bring.
Life however, during Covid-19, might not have been a barrel of laughs for everyone, especially those missing loved ones or worried about their livelihoods. But amidst the uncertainty, we’ve still been finding ways of finding humour, to keep ours and others spirits up. Whether it’s been family antics via online video chats, or partaking in the weekly online quizzes, we’ve been trying to see the funny side of life in lockdown.
It can’t be quantified just how good laughter has been for us during these times of restricted movement, but in terms of body and mind, laughter is good for you – so laugh and be kind to yourself.
Physically, laughing causes your lungs to fill with air, stretches your facial muscles and tightens your abdominal muscles – all causing your pulse and blood pressure to rise, similar to how your body reacts when you exercise.
In the short-term laughter improves blood flow, strengthens your immune system and lowers blood sugar levels, too. Additionally, laughter triggers a relaxation response in the brain, which can temporarily relieve pain and help you sleep better.
It’s no joke
Mentally, laughter reduces the stress chemicals in your brain and increases the amount of oxygen flowing through your brain and body – which is great for your mental health. Laughing can even turn a negative experience into a positive one and can brighten your mood for the rest of the day.
In the longer term, laughter can help improve your immune system. That’s because positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
A good giggle can also act as pain relief, by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations, and can help you connect with other people. Laughing can also improve your mood, by help lessening your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.
If you’re finding it hard to locate your sense of humour, it can actually be learned, so why not give it a try: turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you’ve had your chuckle, take stock of how you’re feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That’s the natural wonder of laughing at work.
Regardless if it’s watching a funny YouTube video or reminiscing about a hilarious event from your past, laughter connects you to a moment of pure happiness and joy.
Laughter has a contagious quality that is triggered by others and people are drawn to you when you laugh because it spreads positivity and good feelings. So, if you want to make some friends, laugh more!
Neil tells us about his passion for photography, a passion he has rediscovered
I had a somewhat unusual introduction to photography and at quite an early age.
It was the 1970s and I was 4 years old. My Grandfather gave my older sister and I an old Brownie 127 camera to share.
It was an 8 frame film camera which was very basic, so my sister and I had 4 frames each. These had to be used very sparingly as the film had to go to Stevenson’s (Stevenson’s Studio – just up past the Chronicle office – remember Sam Stevenson?!) , in Newtownards for processing.
Normally films were developed at home in our house. You see, my father was the President of the Northern Ireland Photographic Society or NIPA for short. So, like it or not, most family trips out were as much about photography as they were about fun as even my mother had a camera too.
Without realising it as a young child, we all had a great teacher in my father and we were all members of the then, Newtownards and District Camera Club (now Ards Camera Club), even my Grandparents!
Anyway, during the next few years, my photography improved and as my photography improved, so too did my camera before matching the SLR of my father (a Minolta XD7 for those familiar!) at around age 8. It wasn’t just my photography that improved, but my darkroom skills too. I was processing, enlarging, using sepia as well as black and white, still learning all the more.
My father’s favourite subject was Natural History (birds and bees etc) and without realising it, we all followed where he led. We didn’t stop taking other photographs – we still did landscape, portrait and studio work too – some with the camera club and some independently.
A couple of years passed before tragedy struck. My father was photographing seabirds from the top of a cliff, when he fell. Alas, around a week afterwards, he died of his injuries.
That was it for our photography. The cameras were put away and the darkroom tidied of chemicals. I was 10 years old and my father had just turned 36.
Years passed by and the cameras were still packed up. I was around 17 years old, had left school and was working. It was around 1989/1990 and I had managed to get a Saturday off for the airshow at Newtownards Airfield. I just have a love of planes and remember the buzz of airshows from the 1970s.
The weather forecast was a bright, blue sky day. It was that day I decided to get out my camera and some of my father’s large lenses to rise to the challenge of taking photographs of small, fast moving subjects (and focus at the same time!).
I set off early with a 500mm lens, picked my spot in the middle of the runway and waited with all my knowledge of airshow performances and photography both. (You may have seen me with a metal camera case – from my early years, it was a seat as well as a step up for extra height – I still prefer to use it when I can!)
The opening act was The Red Arrows. I didn’t have a tripod with me, so I had to control my panning, my breathing and my shutter depression as I focused and took my shots. I used my airshow knowledge of where to look for the Diamond 9 arriving.
People around me were saying they couldn’t see them yet, while I was looking through this big lens, panning as they drew nearer. I got some lovely shots as they turned on their smoke and right through their performance. In fact, I got some great shots that day of nearly all of the aircraft, changing shutter speed between acts to have propeller/rotor movements etc.
I felt alive again at the end of the airshow and confident that I had some great shots. Now I had to save enough money to get them processed! When I got them back, I was very pleased with the results. Of course I’d had to pick my shots carefully, because I only had 36 precious frames each film!
I started to use my camera again, but mostly for family type candids. I took some photographs of a bride leaving her mother’s home as a favour. No real outings or purpose. The camera sort of got set aside again, until the next airshow, if I could get the day off!
Time passed and it was early 2000s. I wasn’t long married when my wife and I took a trip ‘down south’. The weather was amazing, as was the scenery. I found myself in a camera shop, buying a Canon 35mm (film) autofocus SLR!
I still don’t know how it happened, but I was like a child with a new toy the rest of that holiday. Not taking amazing shots, but still taking good shots.
That camera got a lot of casual use, but not much serious use. There hadn’t been an airshow in Northern Ireland in years and it wasn’t looking hopeful there would be another one anytime soon.
I kept a distant eye on digital SLR cameras for a while, reading all about them and their capabilities for photography. Then I read about a Nikon D80. It was 10.2mpix, but it had the professional version of software built in – something that nothing else could rival at that time. I bought it (with a hefty price tag!).
It took some time to get used to this new brand and new type of photography. The autofocus had so many focus points, it took a long time to figure out what worked for me. I couldn’t figure out the ISO function for a long time as it was really more applicable to film. The inbuilt flash was something I wasn’t accustomed to, so I had to experiment with it too. It took me a long time to work through all the inbuilt software and menus, so it took me a long time to become comfortable with this new beast. (I should probably have rejoined the camera club to have learned a bit quicker – but that’s hindsight! Clubs are actually there to help, not to look down at you!)
I was really impressed by this Nikon. I could clearly see a big difference in definition compared to the 6mpix. I realised then, megapixels matter! I had got to know my new camera quite well – even though it was a couple of years before I truly knew how to use it properly.
I used it mostly for pictures of the kids, family birthday parties and the like. My work was starting to cause my mental health to suffer around 2015. I tried lots of things to shrug it off – walking, listening to music, drinking and I even started to smoke again.
One early summer’s evening, I drove down to Balldoaran Lightship. I set the camera up on a tripod and waited for the light to change. I’m sure you’ve probably seen the result hanging in New Horizons already? I got some wonderful shots that evening and I felt good again.
I started to carry the camera in the car with me again. I found myself looking for the right light or landscape. I was looking at the world differently again and it was so refreshing.
One summer evening, as I was driving home from work, I was passing through Comber during a thundery downpour, but I could see the bright sky following behind it. I thought I should stop on the hard shoulder and wait for it to pass. Scrabo hillside was a lush summer green and I knew that the light after the downpour would be glorious. So, I waited around 10 minutes and my patience paid off! You’ve probably seen it hanging in Ards New Horizons too. I emailed it to BBC Newsline Weather and they showed it, complete with photograph credit. It took on a life of its own on social media. I got a kick out of it. A temporary high. But, it’s an addictive sort of high.
So, I kept looking and photographing, sending to the weather email and posting on social media. It all felt good. Really good.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t realised how much my mental health had declined – and continued to decline. There was now a seismic difference between time spent in photography and the rest of my time. Eventually, even the biggest kick out of photography couldn’t lift my spirit enough.
I conceded (during my summer leave period) to go see my GP. I never returned to work and couldn’t even find the strength to get my camera out. I just seemed to keep going down further for about 3 months.
I had an appointment with my Community Psychiatric Nurse that saw me admitted to hospital as a crisis admission.
The Home Treatment Team drove me to hospital.
The funny thing I remember of the journey, was showing them my photography (on my phone)and getting a little kick from their reactions.
I spent about 10 weeks in hospital. When I got out, I was on all sorts of medications. Me, who would never have taken a tablet if I could have avoided it. That’s probably why the new medication regimen was so hard for me to adapt to – apparently I was medication naive – meaning I hadn’t experience of any of these types of drugs before.
I put on weight, I was detached, my mouth was constantly dry, I couldn’t concentrate, my memory was suddenly terrible etc etc.
Then, my referral to AMH New Horizons was accepted. I was going to do Tiffany Glass!
I got the bus in with Sean and started to get to know the crowd.
I discovered there was a photography class and felt a spark reignited when I showed Pauline and Gary some of my work.
So, I started to take photographs again (as I was housebound for a few months after hospital).
I thought that I could perhaps share my work somehow, for others to see. My wife found a website I could use, where people could buy the images as prints to bedsheets. Together, we decided to call myself Blue Lens Photography UK. The ‘blue lens’ part was in reference and recognition of ‘feeling blue’ or depression. The UK part was added because we found a similar name in use in Singapore!
After a few months had passed, my wife announced that WWT Castle Espie were looking for volunteer photographers. I reluctantly applied and attended an informal interview with my wife as advocate.
To my surprise, they were (and remain) very supportive and with no pressure. I’d had to provide some evidence to my work online in my application. Luckily, my wife had set up a Facebook page and I had the website to refer to. During the interview, they told me that my photography was amazing. As a perfectionist, I don’t regard my work that way, but it was nonetheless very nice to hear! And closed the interview with, ‘when do you want to start?’
It’s good to get close to nature, to be alone from family and to do something I enjoy. I also like to think that I’m giving something back, while I’m in a position to do it and enjoy doing it. I get the kicks of seeing my photography used, enjoyed and appreciated.
During the Covid 19 stay at home period, I’ve turned more to tabletop photography and my garden. It’s amazing what you can see if you look hard enough and are patient enough!
I’ve just started to use a different website (https://neilr-finlay.pixels.com/ ) to upload my photographs to. I’ll be honest and say that I take photographs to please me, not other people. I want to continue to enjoy what I do and don’t want the pressure of having to ‘perform’ for someone else. My concept of an image may be completely different from the image someone else would like me to capture!
So, I enjoy what I do, what I can give back and what I get a temporary high from. It is a bit of a challenge, as I’m sure anyone with a camera will tell you, but does it bring you joy? Does it get you outdoors? Do you get closer to nature? Do you want to do it or give it a try?
One Thing by Neil R Finlay, AMH New Horizons North Down & Ards
It’s NI Mental Health Arts Festival this week – Many congratulations to Neil who has been accepted into the Open Call Exhibition – the theme is Identity and Neil chose one of the photographs he took during our “One Thing” film project.
One Thing
Artist – Neil R Finlay
Medium – Photography
Identity – The predominance of the part or parts of your life that come first and dominate the entirety of ‘you’.(in the case of this submission – the black balloons represent facets and worries of depression; how they attach themselves to the person, weighing them down and obscuring their clear vision to provide a perspective through the darkness of poor mental health. The feeling of loneliness and treading against the tide, while burdened with depression is signified by the feet in water and the solitude of a single figure; alone and weighted.)
Neil takes part in AMH’s Working it Out Project which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
AMH Workable staff hosted Great Big Purple Picnics with their families, during Mental Health Awareness Week
Northern Ireland has been bathed in glorious sunshine for much of the lockdown, when government restrictions moved us away from our usual places of work and separated us from loved ones.
In a global experience that has curtailed our daily lives like nothing in living memory, the good weather has been a beacon, reflecting the hope we all have for better times, when we can throw our arms around the ones we are all missing.
Even those living without easily accessible green spaces or gardens, have been able to take their daily exercise under sunny skies, during cloudless days, as we rally ourselves to cope with lockdown life.
Moving away from cars, people have been walking more and dusting off their bikes to cycle for their daily exercise, and meanwhile, new shopping habits have brought us closer to local independent retailers who are diversifying, delivering food and all sorts besides, as we all adapt to this temporary way of life.
As we welcome the return of the sun, during this next phase of the lockdown, which allows us to socialise outdoors with some loved ones, it comes just in time for the Great Big Purple Picnic – Action Mental Health’s flagship event to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
So while we continue to enjoy a slower pace of life, mostly at home, why not dig out the baking bowl, the tea set, the sandwiches – or even the barbecue, to join us at Action Mental Health for the Great Big Purple Picnic 2020. It may be a virtual picnic for many who are still isolated from their loved ones, but whatever way you do it, connecting is a great way to promote better mental health.
If you are finding this period difficult, please have a look at the many resources we at Action Mental Health have compiled to help. Visit https://www.amh.org.uk/coronavirus/
