A Sheffield mental health charity reopened the doors of its wellbeing centre today for the first time since the Coronavirus pandemic to help get people ‘back out there’.
Sheffield Mind, located on Sharrow Lane, hosted a grand reopening today with a pop up charity shop, performance from an acapella choir and free tea and cake for all visitors.
Mental health in the UK was severely impacted during the pandemic with Samaritans reporting a higher number of people seeking support for feelings of loneliness. The charity is still getting some calls from people who are now frightened to go out due to how long they have been at home.
Margaret Lewis, CEO at Sheffield Mind, said: “For a lot of people coming back out again has not been a natural progression, they’re still finding it very difficult. So to come somewhere that they know, trust, and feel they will be supported and accepted, is really important.
“The grand opening day is to say, we are here, and we will do our best to support you and help you get back out there, at a pace that you can manage.”
CEO of Sheffield Mind Margaret Lewis
Visitors to the centre can access a range of mental health services including art therapy, anger management and help to reduce hoarding. The wellbeing centre also acts as a community centre helping people come together and share a cup of tea.
Paul Adams, from Crookes, came down for the event today. “It is very important to people from all generations who need the support,” he said. “It is keeping us going and helping us get back to near normality.”
Paul Adams
Visitors were also treated to an acapella rendition by local choir Hallmark of Harmony over lunchtime.
Today we are at the Grand Reopening of @SheffieldMind Wellbeing Centre in Sharrow. Local choir @hofharmony are currently treating visitors to a live performance. pic.twitter.com/Tx1jRvyz4r
— Sheffield Wire (@Sheffield_Wire) May 9, 2022
Jules Roberts, from the group, said: “We got in contact with mind, because we felt we could share the proven benefits of singing to mental health.”
“Singing is a way to turn off,” fellow member Jason Leonard added. “We sing acapella which takes a lot of focus, so you can’t think about other things because you are so focused on singing.”
The charity plans to run more new classes in the coming weeks. They are starting a ‘Kaleidoscope Cafe’ this Wednesday which will run fortnightly targeted at people from the LGBTQ plus community who are lonely or who have mental health needs. They are also launching a programme called ‘gaps’ to help people who are at risk from gambling related harm.
