CCS Helping This Mental Health Awareness Week
Working with Dorset Mind
On a sunny Wednesday morning, Anna Borkowska, a Resident Liaison Officer (RLO) from CCS, teamed up with volunteers from Dorset Mind, the Citizens Advice Bureau, and Helen Dexter from CCS partners, Stonewater.
The team set up in a small pop-up shop on Kingland Crescent, just outside Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre and next to a well-known hair salon. Their goal was to offer advice on energy costs and funding support, but getting people through the door wasn’t easy. As anyone who’s walked down a high street knows, being approached can feel like a sales pitch, especially when the word "energy" comes up. Still, Anna and the team remained undeterred, engaging passersby with friendly conversations and inviting them into the cool, welcoming space for a cup of tea and a chat with experts about ways to save money on their bills and receive some welcome support.
With the cost of living crisis at the forefront of many people’s minds, the support on offer aimed to ease some of that burden, whether through guidance on accessing grants and funding or by helping individuals find more affordable energy tariffs.
The help didn’t stop there. The team could also provide resources on mental health, including information on depression, anxiety, and emotional wellbeing. Experts were on hand to talk, and printed materials were available for those who preferred to take information away privately if that was a better option for them.
One lady came in for energy advice and left with some information regarding a bus pass that she's been struggling to get. This has been a worry for her, as she struggles to fund transport costs. She left with a plan to get things rectified and, above all, she'd enjoyed chatting with the group. She even gave us an update on a few injuries to the Poole Speedway riders, as she's a big fan of the Pirates.
If you would like to drop in and see Dorset Mind, they are at 25 Kingland Crescent, Poole, BH15 1TA until approximately 3 pm today (Friday, 16th May.)
Raising Awareness & Ongoing Support
This Mental Health Awareness Week, it's important to get the conversation started and make sure everyone is aware that help is available. Getting out into the community and supporting charities like Dorset Mind plays a big part in the short term.
Here at CCS, we have a permanent fixture that constantly raises awareness and offers a route people can take should they need support with their mental health. As we reported in early March, CCS now has two vans being driven around the south of England with information on Andy's Man Club. It's an eye-catching and ever-present reminder of the importance of seeking help and how to do so.
Here is a selection of links for anyone who needs help.
For CCS staff, our Mental Health First Aiders are Jon Buckland, Tina Harvey, and Nicki Parry.
