Alexandra Wellbeing House, Gloucester

Hazel Howe, Director of Services at Swindon and District Mind, came with her husband to tell the Club about the recent expansion of this local part of Mind’s (the very well-known and respected Mental Health Charity) work in Gloucestershire. The charity is working collaboratively and closely with 2gether Trust – the Gloucestershire NHS Mental Health Services provider – in providing a very exciting and welcome ‘Wellbeing House’ called Alexandra House in Gloucester.

Hazel energetically and enthusiastically explained the role of Mind in working with the NHS and also independently as charity to support and help those and their families troubled with Mental Health problems.

 In a short space of time the Club has heard from Jane Melton who works for 2gether and now Hazel Howe from Mind – quietly determined and hugely motivated women who are impressively advocating for and delivering real practical help and support for the up to 1 in 4 of us who at some stage in our lives will have problems.

We heard about the valuable refuge and respite that Alexandra House can and will provide and about all the other services that Mind delivers in Swindon and many it hopes to expand and develop in Gloucestershire.

There is much more information on their excellent website – I would encourage all to have a look.

http://swindonmind.org/

Thank you Hazel for a very informative and above all encouraging and optimistic talk about how you and others will be making sure every effort is made to ensure that Mental Health does achieve ‘Parity of Esteem’ and that we all take time to understand its importance and particularly the value of early recognition and practical support in places like Alexandra House and all the community based services both voluntary and NHS.