Active Minds
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Take up a new activity or re-ignite an old interest
- Meet up with a buddy who will support you to access your chosen activity
- Get advice on healthy living and improve your physical and mental well being
- Join in on some of the groups we run
- Get involved in your local community
Active Minds is focused on reducing social isolation by enabling people to take part in leisure, sports and social activities. We work with local communities to create more opportunities for people experiencing mental distress.
Time to Change
Active Minds is part of a national campaign called Time to Change (previously called Moving People). Time to Change is England's most ambitious programme to end the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems, and improve the nation's wellbeing. Mental Health Media, Mind and Rethink are leading this diverse programme of 35 projects, funded with £18m from the Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief, and evaluated by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London. The programme is founded on an international evidence base, and has people with direct experience of mental health problems at its heart.
Healthy Living & Leisure
Physical and mental wellbeing are intertwined, a healthy mind needs a healthy body and a healthy body needs a healthy mind.
- Active Minds can encourage you to look after your wellbeing by supporting you to become more physically active and develop your knowledge on healthy living issues, like the importance of nutrition, sleep, relaxation and leisure time.
How does it work?
One to One Support
- You will be offered an initial meeting, this is an opportunity for you to discuss your interests, and explore the different options available.
- Active Minds will help you to obtain information on whatever your interest is, and we will offer support and guidance so that you can start taking part.
- If you would like a buddy to attend sessions with you we can match you up with someone.
- You will receive support until you have developed the confidence and motivation to continue independantly.
Groups
Active Minds currently run a number of groups, and hope to develop some more based on your interests! Current groups are:
Boxercise
A weekly two-hour exercise session for 10 weeks at Duke McKenzie's fitness academy in West Croydon.
- Each session involves a structured programme of boxing training and circuit work, covering aspects of boxing techniques and fitness training. (The programme is non-contact, with people only hitting bags or pads).
- Helps to improve your physical fitness
- Builds your confidence and self-esteem
- Meet new people
"Before I started the Boxercise programme I was suffering from agoraphobia, low self-esteem and depression, I wasn't working or leaving my house other than to attend medical appointments. I can honestly say that the Boxercise programme, coupled with the support and encouragement of all involved has had a major impact in helping me regain ownership of my own life. I feel much fitter, more confident, am eating and sleeping better and I have even started permitted work which is a major step forward in my continued recovery. I will also be joining Dukes gym and continuing with the Boxercise. I really cannot stress enough the positive impact the Boxercise programme has had and I hope many more people will benefit from future sessions."
Gym/Swim
We work in partnership with Active Lifestyles to support clients to access the Exercise on Referral Scheme. Weekly sessions are held at New Addington, South Norwood, Thorton Heath and Purley gyms. Here you will have the opportunity to use either the gym facilities or the pool and meet other people.
Badminton
Every Tuesday we hold a weekly badminton session at Thornton Heath Leisure Centre, 12pm-1pm. It's £2.70 a session, come along and join in!
Football
We have a weekly football training session, and hope to take part in some local football matches soon!
Sailing
Mind in Croydon are now in our 6th year of working with the Rona Sailing Project (Formerly the London Sailing Project) to provide sailing opportunities for people with mental health problems.
- Each year we organise three trips for either two or four days each.
- We use the London Sailing Project yacht Helen Mary R.
- Seven service users on each trip, plus 1:1 support.
- Everybody on board expected to take as full a part in the sailing and domestic tasks as they are able, including cooking, washing up, steering, handling the sails, and if they want to, the navigation.
The trips are suitable for adventurous beginners. You don't need to be an athlete, but you do need to be able to move safely around the boat, and get on and off in order to get ashore. Our aim is that everybody will come back feeling that they have had a fun holiday, but also that you have been challenged and have achieved something worthwhile.
"It's been great to do something that's so different from my normal life. I would never have thought that I would experience something like this. I really enjoyed mixing, as a normal person, with the other people on the boat."
Plot 26 - Our Horticulture Project
- Based at our Allotment in South Croydon, we have a small group in a friendly environment where you can learn about growing fruit, vegetables and flowers for two mornings or afternoons a week.
- Working in the Allotment can act as a stepping stone to work, through building confidence and experience, or simply a way to start a hobby or nurture an existing interest in gardening or horticulture.
- Working outdoors has a proven uplifting effect on your mood (especially when the sun is shining!).
"I think the project is a very good way of creating new interest, also greatly helps socialising and mixing with people who understand your problems."
How to access Active Minds
If you are interested in accessing the service please complete a referral form or contact a member of the team.
This should be completed by a health care professional (e.g. GP, CPN, support worker), any CPA and/or risk assessments attached. Please indicate which service you are interested in.
Please click here to download a referral form.
More info
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about the service. Contact:
Chloe Gay
Tel: 020 8253 8205
Mobile: 07849 158498
Dora Crook
Tel: 020 8253 8206
Mobile: 07849 158503
Active Minds
Orchard House
15A, Purley Road
South Croydon
CR2 6EZ