In October we had several events that allowed us to share and celebrate the work of our staff, volunteers and clients over the last year.

Our open evening hosted several different discussions and activities around wellbeing, giving us the chance to hear a range of views as well as showcasing our work. We spoke to clients, local residents, supporters and stakeholders who shared their experiences of the challenges people are facing, and their ideas about what is needed in the local community. It was also a chance for us to catch up and have a chat with colleagues, old friends, and familiar faces!

Discussing men's mental health, the challenges people face and what support we'd like to see in future. This year we hope to set up a group for men to explore issues around mental health, so please get in touch if you have any ideas or want to get involved.

 Our wonderful Inspire volunteer Paulette handled all enquiries at the evening, greeting each person and ensuring they all found what they needed. We have lots of volunteer opportunities at the moment at Centre 70, check our website  Vacancies - Centre 70 or contact volunteer@centre70.org.uk to find out more

Marcia Jones (L) of Sister2Sister BU who runs the monthly Menopause Group with Centre 70 Wellbeing, discussing issues around women's health. Contact wellbeing@centre70.org.uk to join the group

Staff, volunteers, clients and trustees catching up and sharing ideas.

We also held our AGM meeting, thanks to our chair of Trustees Elvis Langley for chairing, and to ALL of our wonderful trustees for their hard work and guidance over the year.

Maternal Journal Exhibition

And finally, a totally different type of celebration: our Maternal Journal Group held an exhibition of the art and journaling work created over this year's Maternal Journal wellbeing group sessions.

The groups bring together new mums to explore their experiences and challenges of being a parent, and gives them tools to use to express their feelings, as well as a powerful experience of peer support by sharing together. The exhibition, held at Stanley Halls shows their very personal and powerful experiences, and some women even read their journal pieces at the exhibition opening. If you can't get down there take a look here, and contact wellbeing@centre70.org.uk to find out more about the next Maternal Journal Group.

(photo credits: James Asfa)

We're well known in West Norwood for our expert advice service and our counselling service, but in March we're adding two brand new wellbeing activities to what we offer.

Wellbeing Day Workshop 

6 March at South London Theatre

This Peer to Peer workshop aims to let clients share their emotional coping methods and learn from one another.

With our Inspire project, we have a talented bunch of volunteers and peer supporters who are dedicated to supporting one another and others in the local community. Inspire volunteers run outreach information sessions, as well a weekly peer support group. Developing these ideas, one volunteer has put together a whole day Wellbeing Workshop to welcome the local community to share tools to live a more beautiful life! 

  To find out more about the ideas behind the workshop, here's a personal word from Peter, Centre 70 volunteer and peer supporter 

  To book your place click here: http://bit.ly/c70wbd3  

Collage for Wellbeing

16 March at West Norwood Library 

We're also working in partnership with Arts Network, a charity that challenges the stigma of mental health and supports people through creative activities, exhibitions and events. Along with Lambeth Libraries we're offering a Collage for Wellbeing workshop - try something new, meet new people and make an original collage.

Book your free place here  https://bit.ly/2RUWEkf 

We hope to see you there!