03

promotingmental well-being

Tunbridge Wells MenTal HealTH resource lTd (MHr), a regisTered cHariTy, based in THe HearT of Tunbridge Wells, Was founded in 1993 To provide pracTical and eMoTional supporT in a safe and caring environMenT, for people suffering froM MenTal ill HealTH.

figures show that in the region of 160,000 people in Kent require support for their mental health illnesses. despite living in what is popularly thought to be an affluent area, many of these people find themselves in financial hardship and social isolation as a result of their illness, sometimes losing their job, home and family.

Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells as patron for Tunbridge Wells Mental Health resource, i am very familiar with the invaluable work that MHr does and have seen for myself the positive impact it has on so many people’s lives in my constituency.  perceptions about mental health are slowly changing

but there is still a lot of misunderstanding and prejudice which often means that people don’t get the help they really need.  This is why organisations such as Tunbridge Wells Mental Health resource are so important and deserve our support.

Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells - Venue of our art workshop

05

the hub& activitiesour friendly qualified team of staff is here to help by listening to you, identify your needs and support you to deal with your difficulties. The Hub has a variety of support options and whilst the team will do all it can to help you, we recognise that sometimes specialist help is needed and we will therefore put you in touch with other relevant organisations.

Working alongside you, MHr will help you identify short and long term goals, helping you to gain a sense of achievement and enhance your quality of life.

recovery is achievable; supporting you to gain new skills, improve on existing ones and moving on to voluntary or paid work enables you to reach your full potential. continuing support helps maintain positive outcomes helping you successfully deal with new challenges.

by learning new skills, refreshing existing ones and maximising your successes combined with socialising in a safe environment, MHr can help you improve and then maintain your mental and physical well being.

MHr also offers a free counselling service and community one to one support programme. for more information about our services and activities please visit our website www.twmhr.org.uk

THe Hub is based in THe HearT of THe coMMuniTy and is easy To access by local TransporT.

assert& advocacy

asserT advocacy is independenT of nHs and social services and separaTe froM oTHer parTs of THe cHariTy. advocaTes Help THe clienT To express THeir oWn vieWs and needs To THe people WHo MaKe decisions abouT THeir lives.

We aim to protect rights, provide information, and promote informed choice. We help you define your needs around housing, benefits, treatment, access to services or employment, and support you while you sort out problems like debt or involvement with social services.

adults with a mental health diagnosis who live in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, sevenoaks and rural areas, or who are currently in a local Mental Health unit, can contact the service themselves or ask their gp, nursing staff, a carer or a friend to do so.

if you call on behalf of someone else, remember that we need their consent before we can discuss their needs with you.

We will visit you anywhere you feel comfortable: at home, on the ward, or in a local café. after talking through the problem, we can direct you to the right service, help you get professional advice, or agree a series of actions. We will then work in partnership with you on these.

patients detained (“sectioned”) under the Mental Health act ’83 or who are under community Treatment orders or guardianship have a legal right to an independent Mental Health advocate (iMHa). if you are responsible for someone in these circumstances, you must ensure that they are offered this service.

iMHas help explain how the law applies, and how to participate in, or appeal against, the plans made for care or treatment. We are also able to act in the interests of someone who currently lacks capacity.

a free, confidenTial service THaT puTs THe clienT’s WisHes firsT

07

09

reachout & our community

reacHouT provides friendly and confidenTial peer supporT groups based in THe coMMuniTy for people WiTH MenTal HealTH difficulTies. our aiM is To reduce isolaTion and encourage people To be pro-acTive in Managing THeir oWn recovery.

individuals who attend the groups are encouraged to share their personal experiences and coping strategies, and in addition, they have the opportunity to feedback their experiences and views of treatment and care.

groups meet to make friends and share personal experiences in an environment where members find they can understand one another. our groups offer friendly, confidential self-help support groups in a caring and non-judgemental environment, facilitated by a paid member of staff.

individuals are given the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback, which we hope will improve mental health services within the local area. on occasions our groups organise guest speakers and social activities.

“My local group gives Me supporT and reassurance WHen i need iT, To be able To carry on My everyday life”

“The directors of the company are also trustees as TWMHr is a registered charity. our work entails giving strategic direction, setting budgets and monitoring performance.

The directors are all volunteers and receive no payment.  We value enormously the work of our paid staff and volunteers and the positive impact they have on our clients.”  

“i look forward to the fortnightly reachout meetings in Tunbridge Wells – our group is friendly, welcoming and worthy of the loyalty shown by members. We care about each other’s progress, give peer

support and discuss many issues ranging from emotional health to practical matters and current affairs. Membership of reachout is also the best platform for getting into service user involvement opportunities.”

“as reachout coordinator i enjoy a varied job supporting facilitation of service user forums in the local communities of Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, sevenoaks,

cranbrook, Hawkhurst and edenbridge. i assist those who wish to become more involved with designing and developing services by attending a wide range of community meetings with members and on their behalf.”

“The Hub has been a constant throughout a lot of change in my life. volunteering here has given me a purpose and a place to feel useful and appreciated. attending once, sometimes twice

a week the staff and members make me feel welcome and at home. i have also been given encouragement to retrain for work gaining valuable experience and support assisting in my future choice of career.”

our facilities are conveniently situated in the heart of Tunbridge Wells town centre with suitable rooms for hire for all types of community group events. evening and weekend hire is also available at competitive prices.

for more information visit; www.twmhr.org.uk or Tel. 01892 615552

our people & clients

11

partners & linksrethink – sevenoaks

01732 742351 www.rethink.org.uk

crossways community care Home 01892 529321 www.crosswayscommunity.org.uk

Town & country Housing 01892 501702 www.tchg.org.uk

porchlight Homeless charity 0800 5677699 www.porchlight.org.uk

Moat Housing 01892 544127 www.moat.co.uk

invicta advocacy service01322 285234 www.invicta-acvocacy-network.org.uk

Medway & swale advocacy service 01634 713739 www.msap.org.uk

south east advocacy project 0330 4409000 www.seap.org.uk

rethink advocacy Maidstone01622 678674

gateway Tunbridge Wells 01892 526121 www2.tunbridgewells.gov.uk

citizens advice bureau 01892 617256 www.citizensadvice.org.uk

live it Well (steps to wellbeing) www.liveitwell.org.uk

samaritans 08457 90 90 90 www.samaritans.org

carers first 01732 357555 www.carersfirst.org.uk

Tunbridge Wells counselling service 01892 548750 www.thecounsellingcentre.org.uk

Mental Health Matters – Helpline 0800 107 0160 24hrs/7 days a week (weekends & bank holidays)

sevenoaks area Mind 01732 459558 www.sevenoaksareamind.org.uk

2a grosvenor park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Tn1 2bd

Tel: 01892 615552

fax: 01892 554729

email: enquiries@twmhr.org.uk

www.twmhr.org.uk

Grosvenor Park

A26

Tunbridge WellsURC Church

GrosvenorPet Centre

Rose &Crown

Cul

verd

en S

t

Kent & SussexHospital

Black HorseHouse

Job Centre

Kit Monster

mhr

© 2011registered charity no. 1049854 registered no. 2826452 englandTunbridge Wells Mental Health resource ltd

design by Zuuve uK www.zuuve.co.uk