A health and social care charity supporting African and Caribbean communities in Sheffield is set to launch a new wellbeing hub next month.
SACMHA is a city-wide organisation which started in 1988 in response to the health and social care needs of people from African and Caribbean descent. They provide culturally responsive support to people within these communities by offering a range of services from mental health support and counselling to social cafés and digital inclusion.
The charity hopes the new hub will be a safe and welcoming space for the community to enjoy.
Service director, David Bussue, 60, said: “After the pandemic, no organisation could ignore the health inequalities compounded by the social inequalities after the murder of George Floyd.
“I really hope a lot will grow out of the hub and organisations who want to hear the authentic voice of people in our community will come and engage with us. The main goal is to improve the mental wellbeing of the community in Sheffield.”
The hub grew out of a partnership when the charity were based at SADACCA with Sheffield Flourish and Andy Freeman’s Space to Breathe.
It has been gratefully funded by the Tudor Trust and will offer a range of activities including a tasty Caribbean meal provided by two of SACMHA’s volunteers for £5, but the organisation accepts more or less depending on what members can afford.
Mr Bussue said: “The hub is really about people with a diagnosed mental illness coming together and having that space to take part in activities and have a hot meal.
“If anyone has a specific need like applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or any other digital support then we’re here to help them with that too.”
The wellbeing hub will be open from 11am until 3pm, with the last admission at 11.30am, and is going to be located on SACMHA’s new campus on Pitsmoor Road, which has been part of a fantastic partnership with Arches Housing Association.
Mr Bussue said: “The benefits of the hub will be two-fold. It’s an early intervention approach which can help prevent someone’s mental health deteriorating and it’s also an aftercare resource as even if someone has already been through the system, they still need support.”
The organisation are very collaborative and love partnering with other organisations, which include but are not limited to The Health and Social Care Foundation Trust, Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS), multiple black-led churches such as the Church of God of Prophecy on Duke Street, Health Education England and Weston Park Cancer Charity.
The charity hope to develop more partnerships in the future and are encouraging organisations to reach out to them.
Mr Bussue said: “We love forming strong and productive relationships that I hope will continue to grow.”
The hub will be open to those with either a full membership who engage in activities and have a meal or those that have associate membership and come to the organisation with a particular need like digital support.
Alongside helping with research, the charity is very inclusive and whilst their primary beneficiaries are those from the African Caribbean community, they also help those from any other communities of colour and anyone in Sheffield happy to receive support from a black led organisation.
Mr Bussue said: “There’s a cliché that says if you find something that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. But I’ve found it to be true.
“This is honestly the best job I’ve ever had and to be able to work in and with my community has really dove-tailed so well.”
To find out more about SACMHA or receiving support visit their website here.
The charity also welcome donations and more information can be found here.
