Find out more information about the individual partners we work closely with.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) provides inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. We also provide specialist services extending throughout the south west.
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We're the UK's leading bereavement charity. We help people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning. We work with many businesses and organisations - in partnership, in collaboration and in delivering training - to support bereaved people at work and in school.
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Since 1989 Headway Swindon has been supporting adults with traumatic and acquired brain injury, their families and carers. Our centre in Dorcan is a relaxed, safe and non-judgemental environment for adults with a brain injury - our aim is to enable brain injury survivors to regain and relearn skills that have become impaired as a result of a brain injury, and provide them with support and advice. Our activities promote cognitive and social rehabilitation, and each person has an individual plan to enable them to meet their goals and achieve their potential.
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The charity started its life in 1974 and has continued to evolve over the years. We took the the decision to rename the charity from SWADS to IPSUM as we felt this better reflected the new direction that the charity was taking. Our core strengths in talking and creative therapies gave us the foundations upon which to develop our services.
Over recent years IPSUM has built on that reputation to develop a range of artistic therapies, broadening its operation to compliment its core professional counselling:
More Than Just A Café - A Place to believe in yourself again.
A Place to feel valued and have purpose.
A Place to learn new skills and meet new friends.
A fine a supportive and encouraging work environment.
Discover the joy of working together to plan and hope for a common good.
A Place to celebrate and educate about mental health
A key objective of the cafe is to help and support people recovering from mental illness or at risk of suffering mental illness by providing them with positive, work-related opportunities in a Café open to the public in order to take them a step nearer to the world of work. We like to think that our presence, and pride in who we are and what we do will mean we are doing our part to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
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Phoenix Enterprises is an independent social enterprise whose commercial activities support training and employment opportunities for people in the Swindon area with mental health issues.
Our mission is to work with adults experiencing short or long-term mental health problems, these range from depression to autism, and also people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and people who are struggling to return to work. We act as a stepping-stone towards jobs in competitive employment by giving people the opportunity to rebuild their confidence whilst learning new skills in a productive and supportive environment.
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Since 1980, Prospect Hospice has provided the only dedicated end-of-life care service for people living in Swindon, Marlborough and north east Wiltshire. We bring care, comfort and confidence, around the clock, every day of the year.
Our aim is to provide excellent, personalised and compassionate care for everyone in our community who is affected by a life-limiting illness. We work in close partnership with other organisations – and specifically with local health and social care professionals – to ensure that anyone can access the best possible care whenever and wherever they need it.
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Richmond Fellowship’s BSW Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Service specialises in providing support for people living with or recovering from mental ill health to find paid employment, voluntary work, education and training or to retain their current employment.
BSW Individual Placement and Support is a specialist employment service for adults looking to return to the workplace as part of their recovery from mental ill health.
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A message from our Branch Director Susie Higgs
“I became our volunteer Branch Director on 1st April 2020. All throughout the Coronavirus pandemic we have continued to provide support to those who need us. We are one of the 201 Samaritans Branches operating throughout the UK and ROI. Our branch is located in central Swindon and has been running for nearly 60 years, meaning we have a wealth of local understanding that enables us to reach out locally to everyone who needs us. We have almost 100 listening volunteers and 15 support volunteers who live and work across our area – from Farringdon, Lechlade and Cricklade to Marlborough, Devizes, and Pewsey and all the surrounding areas in between.
Alongside answering calls and emails from people who need our support, in non-Coronavirus times, we are also active in the community.
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Swindon Mind was originally founded in 1990, only recently becoming Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind in 2018, we are a registered charity and a limited company. We are a Local Mind Association (LMA) affiliated to National Mind though independent of it.
We receive no direct funding from National Mind and make our own decisions about the services we offer. As a registered charity we are managed by a group of trustees who volunteer their time to oversee and support the work of the organisation
Providing mental health advice, support and services to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem in our area.
Our Wellbeing Programme offered solution focussed support through our Five Ways to Wellbeing Assessment, Plans and Reviews.
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TWIGS (Therapeutic Work In Gardening Swindon) came into being in November 1997. It was created by Pride of Swindon winner Anne Billingham, who realised the therapeutic benefits that working with nature could bring to those experiencing mental health problems. At first TWIGS operated from the old Swindon Borough Council (SBC) Amenity Horticulture buildings (where the Manor Garden Centre now stands) and volunteers provided gardening and craft activities for around eight people.
TWIGS Community Gardens are a colourful and vibrant set of gardens in the heart of Swindon. They are managed by TWIGS as a resource to give people who experience mental health problems the chance to regain confidence, self-esteem and to learn new skills. The gardens provide plenty of different ideas to take home to your own garden, along with plants and craft goods to enhance it.
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Voluntary Action Swindon is a charity that helps other charities.
We enable and develop the local voluntary and community sector through advice and training, running campaigns and events, supporting networks and representing sector views to policymakers.
Voluntary Action Swindon (VAS) is the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) in Swindon. A CVS is a charity which supports other charities and coordinates voluntary activity in the local area, as opposed to a frontline charity which supports individuals directly. A CVS is also a forum through which local voluntary and community organisations and statutory sector organisations can communicate with each other and work together.
VAS offers a wide variety of services and support to the local voluntary and community sector. This includes advice on fundraising and governance, printing services, DBS checks and room/equipment hire. VAS runs or helps to administer several of the major networks and projects in Swindon’s voluntary and community sector, including Swindon Sports Forum, Sanford House, Swindon Equality Coalition, and the SAIL Project.
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Wiltshire Community Foundation is an independent charity. We exist to tackle disadvantage and strengthen local communities by inspiring philanthropy and supporting the voluntary sector.
Our mission is to maximise the impact of charitable activity by connecting people, information and resources.
Over the next five years, we will continue to develop our understanding of local needs and invest £10million to help people and communities thrive across Wiltshire and Swindon.
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Willows is a safe space offering counselling support for people feeling worried about anything affecting their mental health, as well as delivering training for people to become counsellors.
The restoration of psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical health by the provision of Counselling, Counsellor Training and Research.
Willows offers information, guidance and supportive help to empower people who want to live with better mental health and well-being and to organisations and groups who support them.
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Wiltshire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1962, driven by a concern to protect local wildlife and natural habitats. Our first nature reserve was Blackmoor Copse, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the most important woods in Wiltshire for butterflies. Today, we manage over 40 nature reserves across the county, including wetland, woodland, meadow and chalk downland habitats. We are passionate about getting people outdoors to experience nature and to take action to ensure its protection.
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The Wiltshire Women Empowerment Program is a charitable organisation based in Swindon. We aim to empower all women and female-headed families in the BAME community and beyond. Through our various services, we aim to promote women’s empowerment and provide a platform for women to begin their journey to empower and equip themselves. In this way we enable women to build their confidence and self-esteem.
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