Fund a mental health Creative Writing Group

Hello, My name is Michele and I live with a mental health diagnosis. I am also the Lead Governor at Surrey & Borders Mental Health Trust whose Headquarters are in Leatherhead but supports people all across Surrey and North Hants with mental health problems, learning difficulties and dementia.

For the last 6 years I have run a Creative Writing Group for people who use services and in that time over 200 people have attended the group, some for short periods others since it’s inception. SaBP are no longer funding us but we have received funding from Mary Frances Trust during the pandemic however, they too are under funding stress and our evening groups have been cut and the group’s survival is under threat.

Creative writing is a wonderful outlet for people struggling with their mental health and great successes have come our way. People who started off struggling to speak in class are now sharing and even meeting up outside of the group and we have had several members published and one person off to Uni next year after starting with us with no qualifications. We also have competitions which are a cause of great motivation, enthusiasm and excitement with small prizes of books and vouchers.

It would be such a loss to the community for the group to disappear and the valuable creative work, friendships, confidence and social cohesion for some of our most vulnerable folk to be lost. Please consider supporting us.

If you would like to learn more about the work of SaBP the link is https://www.sabp.nhs.uk

Thank you so much for reading and thank you in advance for your kind donations.