Supporting Mental Health Care in Manchester

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 12 to 18 May across the UK. We’ve picked out two groups whose work is worthy of your support.

Before the week itself, the South Manchester and Trafford based mobile arts service PatchWork is holding a fundraising event at the Nazarene Theological College on Dene Road in Didsbury. The event is a clothes swap and silent auction, to which you’re encouraged to bring three swappable items minimum. It takes places tonight, 7 May, from 7-9pm and is £5 for entry.

All proceeds go to PatchWork, which is a community venture aiming to harness the benefits gained via artistic and creative pursuits in order to instil self-belief and confidence while improving self-expression and wellbeing. They run art workshops with a relaxing atmosphere intended to counteract mental health conditions such as anxiety. These mobile workshops can be joined via referral from your GP, hospital or counselling service and seek to ease the pressure on NHS therapeutic services as well as educating people about mental health conditions and minimising any negative stigma through its campaigns and events.

More directly linked to Mental Health Awareness Week is the local charity Manchester Mind, which is collaborating with ten Northern Quarter cafés during the week. The venues, including Nexus Arts Café, Earth Café, North Tea Power, Teacup, Oklahoma, Common, Soup Kitchen and Oak Street Café Bar, will all be encouraging customers to donate their change to the charity, which will in turn contribute to their ongoing projects in the area.

The venue to gain the most money via donations during the week will also receive a prize from the charity.

Information stalls for Mental Health Awareness Week will also be located throughout the week at the BPP Manchester campus on Oxford Street and at Salford Royal Hospital.

Words: Ian Pennington

For more info on PatchWork click here or contact Patrick Green on patchwork.enquiry@gmail.com.
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 12 to 18 May and more info on Manchester Mind’s events and support can be found here.