Minutes from 12 August 2008

Dear Colleague

Thank you for your continuing support and hard work towards Epsom Mental Health Week.  Time is marching on and things are beginning to come together.  I hope that the planning and work will continue to be exciting, enjoyable and not too stressful.  Our next meeting will be on Monday 1 September 12noon – 2pm at St Barnabas Church, Temple Road, Epsom and lunch will be provided.

At our meeting on 12 August we saw the first draft of the brochure which received very positive comments, so a huge thank you to Sarah, Glyn and Alex Jenkins for putting it together and updating the website.

And so to the details of the meeting:
Shiva Finch is willing to organise a prayer and reflection meeting and will be re-contacting schools and colleges in early September.
Trevor Finch will provide a poetry recital, possibly entitled ‘Minds in Common’.
Don Illman has made great progress with the walk around the former hospital sites.  This will take place on 11 October.  Walkers will be provided with a map of the route, a history of the sites and information about mental health care, then and now.  Anne Richardson will see if Hillcrest would be able to provide cake and coffee to the walkers.  Anne will also give a talk at the prison re being a carer.
Jane Sadler will be able to give a talk and organise a stall for KAG Advocacy.
Pippa Baines confirmed that there will be an advice stall staffed by MH professionals on 8 October.  She also asked for volunteers to meet and consider if an opening carnival was feasible.
Jessica Agudelo and Sandra Young will offer well-being talks at the Ebbisham centre on 8 and 10 October.  Jessica will also provide the name of a flower arranger who could provide therapeutic craft time.
Rebecca Court to provide information on Redstone Radio and Talking Newspapers and to speak to Conquest Art.
Paul and Sue Thompson will invite The Old Moat Garden Centre to provide floral decorations for the week.
Ghodsie Hardwick will give a talk on the therapeutic effect of gardening.
Meyrick Grundy will invite the Gershwin Unit to lend some craft work.
Sandra Young has useful contacts re producing publicity in a variety of languages.
PCSO Mags Johnson willing to distribute posters in shops and offices.
Mandy McCann will make some cards for sale.
First Steps are able to provide information booklets for the week.
Galway Art will lend some art work, as will Art Matters.
Evergreen Theatre Company has confirmed that they will be able to perform.
Age Concern will provide information leaflets/volunteers on a stall either at St Barnabas or in the market place.
CAB MH outreach team will offer free advice sessions on 7 and 9 October afternoons.
Prayer space.  Instead of a labyrinth there will be places for people to pray and reflect around St Barnabas church.
Alzheimer’s Society Caravan no longer exists.  Alternative venues to be considered.

Brochure Comments included ‘wonderful’ and ‘fantastic’ and it is only at the draft stage!  We will need an experienced proof reader at the beginning of September: please let me know if that is one of your gifts.  Thank you.

Evaluation of the week.  Mike Smith provided helpful ideas. Jessica will produce a draft evaluation form.  The website may also provide space for feedback.

Funding.  An anonymous donation of £100.00 has been gratefully received.  Companies will be approached to provide funding in cash or kind.

As ever, apologies in advance if I have misrepresented you in the minutes!  And a request: we could really do with some admin help during the next weeks and we will be needing lots of volunteers during the week.  Please let me know if you may be able to help in any way, or know of people who can (and thank you to those who have already volunteered, and don’t worry if you can’t!)


With kind regards and many thanks


Sue