Maccas Blog 5
So how is everyone enjoying this lovely weather? Summer holidays are about to start, but there is no rest for us here at Macca’s! We have events to attend, workshops
to update and an action plan to re-vamp before the new academic year begins. With September will come fresher’s week for those starting at University, are you moving to further your education? This can be exciting as well as scary and stressful. Look out for us at your Freshers, come and have a chat about how you are coping.
May and June were busy months for us, the highlight being the opening of Tom’s garden at St Josephs Catholic College on 24th May. A beautiful, peaceful space for students to enjoy in memory of Tom. The afternoon was filled with sunshine, music and chatter along with a few tears.
We have still been on the go delivering workshops and talks in schools and colleges, we have spoken to 738 young people over the course of two months. As the main body of our project we are extremely proud of our workshops and the interaction we get from pupils when discussing mental health and suicide. A big thank you to St Thomas More Catholic College, Haywood High, St Peters, Clayton High, Thistley Hough and Discovery Academy, who have all engaged wonderfully!
Our group work is expanding and will be changing form for the next academic year in a bid to reach more young people- watch this space! Our drop-in at Pilgrims Pit is going from strength to strength; we went out to a local park on our last session. Everyone enjoyed ‘getting creative with nature’. We run this group on the first Thursday of each month, feel free to come along and join in or have a chat with the team from 4-5.30pm.
We have noticed a considerable change in the awareness of mental health in the work place. Over recent months we have been approached by businesses to go along and talk to staff about mental wellbeing. We feel this is a big step in the right direction to breaking down stigma and getting people talking about mental health. Thank you to FedEx and Bray Leino who both invited us along to talk to their staff. If you feel this is something that could benefit your work place get in touch and we shall see what we can do for you.
Many runners took up the challenge of ‘The Mud Run’ to fundraise for Maccas and North Staffs Mind. So to end this month’s blog here is a rundown of the day from one of the brave runners;
The JCB Mudrun was a unique experience quite unlike anything I’d done before. 10 of us from Younger Mind ran in it to raise money for Macca’s and Mindzone; a centre we run on a Monday evening that provides 11 -18 year olds with one to one wellbeing sessions and each week, delivers a fun and interactive psychoeducational workshop to help young people to deal with their emotional and mental health issues.
It was a beautiful sunny and very muddy day, the run took us through some incredible landscapes, steep hills and all manner of obstacles including going through the middle of a very cold lake. It wasn’t my typical Saturday afternoon walk with my dog and I have to admit to doubting my fitness level at the start. This wasn’t helped when we saw a sign indicating the half way mark, when I was certain that the finishing line would be around the next corner!
What the day did give me though was the sense of pride of being part of a great team working towards a common goal. We all supported one another, encouraging each other when the going got tough, laughing and moaning together but having a care and concern for each other that we would all make it across the finishing line no matter what. That’s what really made the day special and incredibly rewarding.
We’ve raised a substantial amount that will help to fund our project with much needed resources. My blisters and arm have healed nicely too!’
Where can you find us during the summer holidays?
Port Vale Football Club 1-4.00pm 4th August
One Smithfield 1-4.00pm 9th August
Weston Coyney Village Hall 1-4pm 15th August
