General FAQs

I do not live in Croydon – can I use your services?
Unfortunately we cannot offer our services to people who do not live in the London Borough of Croydon. You may contact our Infoline if you require the details of your local Mind, or refer to the links on the National Mind website.

Is there parking available at the main Mind in Croydon branch?
Car parking spaces at Mind in Croydon are for staff use only. There are some pay and display parking bays on Pampisford Road; in addition there are three NCP Car Parks within walking distance of the Mind in Croydon building.

Advocacy FAQs

What advocacy work do you provide for your clients within the community?
Most commonly we provide support on Community Care, and care and treatment issues. We also provide information on a range of issues and if necessary, make referrals to other professionals for advice and representation, e.g. solicitors, welfare rights workers, and the Health Service and Local Government Ombudsmen.

Counselling FAQs

How can I make an appointment?
Clients can self refer by ringing 020 8763 2064 and giving their name and address.  An information pack will then be sent detailing how the service works and what to expect from it.  If, after reading the information, you decide you would like to proceed, a short questionnaire will be sent to you for completion.  The questionnaire aids the counsellor in making a decision about the best way forward for you.

Do I need to be referred?
The counselling service only accepts people who self refer; therefore a referral from your GP or other health professional is not required. Most callers however have visited their GP and the counselling service has been suggested to them.

How much does it cost?
You will be asked to make a contribution towards administration costs. The current minimum contribution is £3.00 if you are not working and £10.00 if you are in paid employment.

How long does the counselling last and how long are the sessions?
The sessions will be 50 minutes long. The Mind in Croydon Counselling Service is limited to 20 sessions of counselling.

Is Relationship Counselling or Family Therapy available?
No, we provide one-to-one counselling and we also run some therapy groups. See links for specialist relationship counselling organisation and family therapy.

Is there childcare available?
There are no childcare facilities at Mind in Croydon. If childcare is an issue for you please discuss this at your assessment interview.

Do you offer counselling in the evenings or at weekends?
We offer counselling on Thursday evenings. We do not offer weekend appointments.

I do not live in Croydon – What do I do?
Unfortunately we cannot offer the service to people who do not live in the London Borough of Croydon. See links for National Mind and other counselling organisations on our links page.

Can I make an appointment for someone else?
Counselling is a big commitment, if a person is too distressed to make the initial call, there is a good chance that they would not be in a position to fully participate in a counselling session. A visit to a GP would probably be a good idea in the first instance.  If you are concerned about someone who maybe experiencing difficulty please do contact us: 020 8763 2064.

Will what I say be kept Confidential?
Feel free to read the Counselling Service Confidentiality policy Link.

What kind of problems do you deal with?
We can help you deal with any problems that are causing emotional distress.  Many counsellors have specialist skills in areas including:

- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Family issues
- Group Therapy
- Relationships        
- Sexual abuse               

The GP has prescribed Anti-depressants and I’m not sure I want to take them what do I do?
Get as much information as possible about the prescription from the GP who prescribed it for you in the first instance. Your local pharmacist will also be able to give you information about the medication. It is a good idea to write a list of those nagging questions such as: Will I become addicted? Can I take these and still drive my car? Get your doctor to answer these questions.   If you decide not to take the medication that has been prescribed, it is always adviseable to let the Dr know your decision.

Is there parking available at Mind in Croydon?
Car parking spaces at Mind in Croydon are for staff use only. There are some pay and display parking bays on Pampisford Road; in addition there are three NCP Car Parks within walking distance of the Mind in Croydon building.

What can I do in a crisis?
If you are in a crisis and need to be seen urgently we can arrange for you to be seen within 48 hours - Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.00pm.

The South London and Maudsley Trust provide a 24 hour emergency information line available on free phone No: 0800 731 2864.

Is it possible to volunteer to work for the counselling service?
If you would like to volunteer for the counselling service and have reception and admin skills, we would like to hear from you.   You can download an application form and job description information, or call the Counselling Service to it discuss your eligibility.

I am currently training to become a counsellor & I need a placement.  Can I apply for one at Mind?

Yes, click here to download an application form & job description.

Enterprise House FAQs

I’m interested in finding out how I can become a member?
All members must fill out an application form, which can be obtained from project staff at Enterprise House. There is also a requirement that you are referred. Contact us by telephone on 020 8771 5950. Or E-mail: enterprise@mindincroydon.org.uk

How do I get referred?
The person who is responsible for your mental health care can refer you i.e. your GP, Psychiatrist, CPN, Care manager or a member of another Mind Centre who knows you and sees you regularly.

How many days would I attend the project?
The project requires that you attend for a minimum of two days per week. A maximum of three days is permitted after an agreed trial period.

Will I get Paid?
Attendance is on a voluntary basis but we provide out of pocket expenses.

Will it help me to get back to work?
Working at the project will provide valuable experiences that are essential for work. Mind will also provide a reference.

How long can I stay at the project?
Places within the project are provided for two years, however the length of time may vary due to individual circumstances.

What skills will I learn?
The project allows people to gain a variety of skills i.e., basic computer skills, clerical and administration, customer service, sales and retail, living skills, catering, gardening, painting and decorating, and van assistant.

Fundraising FAQs
Can you tell me more about the donation administration site Cafonline.org?

This website founded by CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) enables donors to make one-off donations to a wide range of charitites throughout the UK in addition to providing advice on the most tax-efficient ways to give.

If I make an online donation, will be credit details be protected?
GiveNow.org, is committed to protecting your security. Donations and online applications are encrypted the moment you send them using SSL (secure sockets layer). If you require further assurance you can refer to their Security policy.

If I make an online donation, will my personal details be protected?
GiveNow.org, is committed to protecting your privacy. Your details will not be passed to external companies for marketing purposes. Refer to their Privacy policy for full details.

Welfare Benefits

I have no idea if my benefits are right or if I should claim something else – can you help me?
Probably. If you phone us up we will talk it through on the phone and explain the options. If you can tell us exactly what you are getting we can probably tell you if it is right.

I want someone to sit down with me and do a check of my benefits. Will you do this?
Probably not. Health and Social Services staff in the Resource Centres can do benefit checks and if necessary they can ask us for advice.

Someone I know is getting Disability Living Allowance and he thinks I should be entitled as well. Can you tell me if this is right?
Up to a point. If you call us we can probably advise you whether it is worth claiming or not and how to get the forms if so. We will not be able to tell you for certain if you are entitled.

I have got the DLA forms. Now will you help me fill them in?
Probably not. Care Managers and other health and social services staff who know you are usually the best people to help fill in forms. We can advise them on what needs to be included if they ask.

I have been turned down for DLA, or I do not think I have been given enough. Will you help me appeal?
Yes. If you need to go to appeal we will help you all the way through the process. This includes writing to doctors and other professionals for evidence, putting arguments in writing to a Tribunal and accompanying you to Tribunal hearings.

I have got an appeal coming up next week. Will you help me?
Yes, but it would be a lot easier if you had contacted us earlier. In these circumstances we will take the case on but we will probably have to ask for an adjournment.

I have been called up for an examination to see if I am still too ill to work. Will you go with me? Yes, but it would be better if you had contacted us earlier when the Benefits Agency sent you the forms as we might have been able to avoid you having to go for an examination at all.

They have just told me that I am well enough to work and that I have to sign on. I do not feel well enough to work and my doctor does not think so either. What should I do?
You need to appeal. We can help you do this and also advise you on what to claim while you are waiting for the appeal to be heard.

I have been on Incapacity Benefit for years but now I have got the chance of doing some work. Could you advise me what the effect would be on my benefits?
Yes, if you can give us details of the type and the amount of work and the amount of money. We will also advise you that going back to work is an important decision and that the effect on your benefits is only one of the things to consider.

They have told me that I have been overpaid a lot of benefit and that I have to pay it back. Will you help me?
Yes. This is not the sort of thing that we would expect Care Managers to take on.

I have been on Income Support and Housing Benefit for years but they have suddenly stopped my Housing Benefit and now they are taking me to court for a possession order. What should I do?
We deal with people in your situation quite often. We will be able to help you, if the situation is as you describe, but it may take some time to fully resolve the situation.

This sounds great. How can I get taken on by your service?
Preferably by a referral from a professional such as a doctor, nurse or social worker or by another Voluntary Agency. You can refer yourself if you need the sort of help we offer but we would prefer you not to unless it is an emergency.

Where can I see you?
Normally at our offices in Purley but we also do sessions at the Resource Centres (Tamworth Road, Purley, Westways and the Crescent).

This is all very well, but are you actually any good at what you do?
Yes. Almost everyone we help ends up better off and almost all the appeals we are involved in are successful. We do not offer miracles however. If we think you are already getting all you are entitled to we will tell you so.