Brent
Mind is affiliated to National Mind but is also an independent
registered charity and company limited by guarantee.
The inaugural meeting of Brent Mind
was on September 30th 1974 in Brent Town Hall. After
the inauguration, the first Executive Committee Meeting
was held. Brent Mind was created by a group of volunteers
to address a lack of services for local people experiencing
mental distress.
At the very first meeting a long term
and short term project were decided. The long-term project
was to set up a house for people leaving Shenley Hospital
and the short-term project was to set up a Drop-In/Social
Club.
- In 1975 Brent Mind opened 6 flats for former psychiatric patients.
- In 1975 Brent Mind started a Social Club to provide an opportunity for service users to build relationships and improve their well being through a range of social activities.
- 1977, the Befriending Scheme was set up and the first set of befrienders were trained and linked to people who were being discharged from hospital.
- 1978, we had our first full time paid development worker and a year later a paid housing worker.
- In 1982, the Mind Training House was opened to provide accommodation and support for people experiencing mental distress. They were taught life skills in order to achieve their goals of living independently.
- 1985, Brent Mind had its first holiday which took place on the Isle of Wight. 31 people attended.
- In 1987, Brent Mind started a Counselling service
- From 1995-1998 Brent Mind ran the Shenley Advice Project. This was an advocacy service for over 200 people who were discharged from Shenley hospital prior to its closure in 1998.
- In 1997 Brent Mind launched its Mind Map programme to raise awareness of mental health issues amongst children and young people
- In 1997 Brent Mind started to offer support for those with a Dual Diagnosis (mental distress alongside misuse of drugs/and or alcohol).
- In 1997, Brent Mind User Involvement Forum was formed as a way for Brent Mind's service users to have their concerns heard and responded to.
- In 1998 our Counselling Centre, the 383 Centre was open, expanding its service from 25 to 40 counsellors
- In 1998, the Befriending Scheme was created, to provide one to one support, by trained volunteers, to those experiencing mental health distress and isolation
- In 2000 Brent Mind opened a supported housing service for Black Men with Dual Diagnosis
- In 2007 Brent Mind launched Contact Service
Present Activities
- Befriending
- Supported Housing in Groups Homes
- Horizon Services and Drop-in
support
- Hearing Voices Group
- Rainbow Group ( for women over 50)
- Mental health promotion to young people
- Counselling
- Partnership with other providers to run short courses, employment support
- Contact Service
- Well Business Service
We have been expanding the services we provide ever
since and working in partnership with other agencies.
About Mind
Mind is the leading mental health charity in England
and Wales. We work to create a better life for everyone
with experience of mental distress by:
- advancing the views, needs
and ambitions of people with mental health problems
- challenging discrimination
and promoting inclusion
- influencing policy through
campaigning and education
- inspiring the development
of quality services which reflect expressed need
and diversity
- achieving equal rights through
campaigning and education.
In all our work we promote our values:
informed, determined, diversity, integrity and partnership.
Mental health problems can affect
anyone, rich or poor, young or old, shattering the lives
of those affected and the lives of the people close
to them. One in four of us will experience a mental
health problem at some point in our lives. Each year
more than 250,000 people are admitted to psychiatric
hospitals and over 4,000 people take their own lives.
Mind's Mission
Our vision is of a society that promotes and protects
good mental health for all, and that treats people with
experience of mental distress fairly, positively, and
with respect.
The needs and experiences of people
with mental distress drive our work and we make sure
their voice is heard by those who influence change.
Our independence gives us the freedom
to stand up and speak out on the real issues that affect
daily lives.
We provide information and support,
campaign to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership
with independent local Mind associations, develop local
services.
We do all this to make it possible for people who experience
mental distress to live full lives, and play their full
part in society.
MindinfoLine 0845
766 0163
Values
Informed
People with experience of mental distress drive all
we do.
Diversity
We respect everyone's experience and ensure inclusion
is at the heart of our work.
Partnership
We are committed to working with our networks and all
who will help us achieve our mission.
Integrity
Our independence ensures our integrity - we are never
compromised.
Determined
We will never give up challenging discrimination and
campaigning for better mental health.
Mind's Mission Statement
(as adopted by Brent Mind)
Our Purpose
Mind works to create a better life for everyone with
experience of mental distress.
Mind does this by:
- Advancing the views, needs
and ambitions of people with mental health problems
- Challenging discrimination
and promoting inclusion
- Influencing policy through
campaigning and education
- Inspiring the development
of quality services which reflect expressed need
and diversity
- achieving equal rights through
campaigning and education
Values and Principles
The values and principles which underpin Mind's work
are:
Informed, Diversity, Partnership, Integrity,
Determined
The Mission of Brent Mind
We work with you to improve the mental health of
Brent.
In order to implement this mission,
Brent Mind could identify a number of broad strategic
aims:
- To develop Brent Mind's service
users' skills and competencies to be actively involved
in, and informing, service delivery.
- To be actively engaged in
the promotion of good mental health for those who
live and work in Brent.
- To maintain and develop appropriate
services and community-based resources that work
to improve mental health
Underlying this mission and the strategic
aims are the values that are held within Brent Mind
in common with all Mind Associations:
Informed
People with experience of mental distress drive all
we do.
Diversity
We respect everyone's experience and ensure inclusion
is at the heart of our work.
Partnership
We are committed to working with our networks and all
who will help us achieve our mission.
Integrity
Our independence ensures our integrity - we are never
compromised.
Determined
We will never give up challenging discrimination and
working for better mental health.
Present Operations
Brent Mind has 29 employees and over
60 volunteers who work across three premises. Brent
Mind works to support recovery from Mental Health distress,
working in a way that builds resilience and independence.
Brent Mind does this through a number of services:
- Befriending
- Counselling
- Community Housing
- Information and Advice
- Mind Map - Young Person's
Health Promotion
- Horizon Services - Providing
structured activities and a social group, including
a service for older people.
- Volunteer programme
- Well-being services for employees
and organisations
We provide services through outreach
work in the community as well as by providing a service
base for our service users.
Many of our services are provided on
contract to the Primary Care Trust and Brent Council.
In addition, we receive charitable funding from The
Big Lottery for two of our services and smaller donations
from a range of businesses, charitable trusts and supporters.
In February 2007, the members of Brent
Mind approved a change to our objects to reflect a focus
on recovery and to change the geographical are in which
we operate to allow us to work in partnership in other
areas.
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