1. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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November's highlights from Mind in Haringey
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Dear friends,
Our storytelling fundraising evening with Spark
London was a highlight this month, with our service
user, Shannen, taking to the stage and leaving the
audience spellbound. It's events like this that help
us fight the discrimination that exists around mental
ill health, and remind us that anyone can be
affected, at anytime.
It was awards time again, with our garden and
allotment winning another Haringey in Bloom gong
from the local council. Thanks to Mind in Haringey's
Dave Forrest and his team for all their hard work.
I was interviewed by the Ham & High newspaper this month, in response to the Panorama
documentary, which featured the Barnet Enfield Haringey Mental Health Trust as an
example of the immense pressure mental health services are under. I welcome the £600m
the Chancellor announced he's giving to mental health, as part of November's spending
review, but would like to know over how long a period that money will be used.
We have two fundraisers to look forward to in December ­ an evening of festive music
performed by the London Medical Orchestra and Tottenham Community Choir at St Mellitus
church on the 13th, and a carol concert at the Old Dairy pub in Stroud Green, featuring the
amazing Angels of Kaos and local choir Stapleton Singers, who use Station House for
rehearsals. Please join us at both events. We will also have our very popular service users
Christmas party on the 16th at Station House, which will feature children from nearby St
Aidan's Primary School coming along to sing carols. I'd also like to give enormous thanks
to Heirloom restaurant and Black Katz Lettings, both in Crouch End, for making us their
Christmas charities this year.
Take care of yourselves,
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2. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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CEO, Anita Hudson
Spark, wit and courage
Many people took to the stage at our storytelling fundraiser earlier this month, held in
conjunction with arts organisation, Spark London, to share their experiences of how their
backgrounds and beliefs have shaped their own mental health.
The event, at the Hackney Picturehouse, was memorable in many ways. At times you
could hear a pin drop as the storytellers spoke so movingly about their
experiences, while at other times the stories were hilarious. Thank you to all the
performers and audience members for helping to normalise mental health and for
supporting Mind in Haringey.
"I want to give something back"

3. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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Michael Sugrue lives in Highbury and works as a
volunteer admin assistant at MiH. He's lived with bi
polar for 32 years and has spent several periods in
hospital. He also volunteers as a Telephone
Befriender and is employed by the not­for­profit
organisation, Certitude, as a Travel Buddy and
Sessional Worker.
What made you want to volunteer at MiH?
I’d worked for Islington council as an admin officer for 36
years, and was made redundant in July 2012. Within six
months I had got very depressed, and fell into the
unemployed trap of not looking after myself and sleeping a
lot. My family suggested volunteering, so I made some enquiries and ended up here. I have
been helped over the years because of my own mental disability and wanted to give
something back.
Has volunteering helped you?
It really has. It's given me the confidence to apply for jobs, and because of that I have
developed a whole new career working with people with mental health problems. In my role
as a travel buddy I escort service users to social events and appointments or accompany
them to workshops or courses. I never thought I'd be paid to go to the cinema, but that's
what I do with one of my clients. I hadn't been to the cinema for 26 years before I got this
job and now I've been five times in the last three months!
How do you manage your own mental health?
I have been on lithium for 32 years and take an antipsychotic drug, too. The
biggest improvement I've made is if I feel myself getting unwell I tell people, which in the
early days I never did. I constantly monitor how I am feeling, how I react to things and talk
to people. I have also cut out alcohol, apart from a glass of wine at Christmas or special
events, because alcohol stops me having a clear head. The last time I was very unwell was in
2005 when I threw myself off my second floor balcony. My problems have always been
work related. I would worry that I'd upset one of my colleagues and they would get at me
through my parents. I was always asking my mum and dad if anyone had rung or come
round. After that incident in 2005, the NHS put me back together and I have been much
better since. My mum died in 2007 but I am close to my brother and two sisters. If ever I
get low I remind myself how I looked after my mum for 12 years while working full time
and managing my own disability, and of that I am very proud.

4. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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BLOOMING MARVELLOUS
Our garden and allotment has won another Haringey in Bloom award from Haringey
Council. The prize is given to organisations that help make create a cleaner, greener
borough. Our green­fingered Wellbeing Activities Manager, Dave Forrest, (pictured
above with our CEO, Anita) and his team of volunteer service users have also won
2,000 spring bulbs from the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. Come visit our
garden to enjoy a riot of colour next spring!

5. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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DINE AND DONATE
The fantastic Heirloom restaurant, on Park Road in Crouch End, is running our Give a
Pound scheme throughout December, in which diners are invited to add £1 to their
bill, with that £1 going to us.
Cornish crab and squash soup, 40 day­aged Red Sussex beef rump and Amalfi lemon
posset and shortbread, are just some of the mouth­watering dishes on offer at the
restaurant, which specialises in rare­breeds meat and grows its vegetables on its own
farm in Buckinghamshire. "Crouch End has a great community spirit and we are really
pleased to be supporting Mind in Haringey in this way, helping them to raise
awareness around mental health issues and much­needed funds," says General
Manager, James Galton.
MIND IN HARINGEY OVER CHRISTMAS
There will be no workshops or services (except advocacy service) in the week running
up to Christmas, but we'll still have activities on each day, such as a movie or quiz.
Speak to Dave Forrest our Wellbeing Activities Coordinator about what's happening,
or look on the website.
Mind in Haringey will be closed from Friday December 25 (Christmas Day) and reopen
on Monday January 4, 2016. However, there is a Christmas Day Lunch and Party at
the Union Church and Community Centre, on Weston Park in Crouch End, which Dave
has tickets for. Please speak to him if you would like to go.

6. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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A Bicycle Made For You
We have a Boardman Road Team Carbon bike
up for grabs, one of the bikes used in our 280
mile Thameslink cycle fundraiser last August.
Valued at £949 on the Halfords website, the
bike was donated by an MiH supporter
who rode it from Wildenrath, Germany to Three
Bridges in West Sussex, going through Haringey on the way. The bike will be put
up for auction in time for Christmas, so keep an eye on our website for more
details.
Mental Health First Aid
How can you help someone close to you with a mental health problem if you can't see
the signs? Our FREE accredited two­day Mental Health First Aid course will give you
skills you'll need to recognise the signs and respond appropriately, while keeping
yourself safe. The course is run at Station House and is open to all, with priority
booking given to those working or volunteering in Haringey. We also offer a half day
course, also FREE, designed to give an insight into mental health, and is
recommended for anyone wishing to take up mentoring or project support.
YOUR VOICES HEARD
Treatment on Secure Units, lack of support after leaving hospital and the fact we only
have one respite house now in Haringey, due to the cuts, were some of the points
raised at our Service Users Forum held at Station House this month. The event was
BOOK NOW

7. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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well­attended by many people who use mental health services in the borough and we
thank Zara Church, an inspector of the Care Quality Commission, for coming to the
event and answering people's questions.
Christmas Shopping Giving
Do your internet Christmas shopping through easyfundraising.com and
you will be raising money for us at the same time.
Argos, John Lewis and Amazon are just some of the hundreds of
retailers signed up for the scheme, which earns us money every time
you shop. Simply register http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
You can donate to Mind in
Haringey by clicking on the
button above. Thank you
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December 13: Carol Concert at St Mellitus Church, Tollington Park, Stroud
Green. An amazing evening of festive music performed by London
Medical Orchestra and Tottenham Community Choir, with half the proceeds
going to us. Tickets cost £10, £8 concessions Buy now!
December 16: Carol concert fundraiser for us at The Old Dairy in Stroud Green,
with the wonderful 16­piece Angels of Kaos choir performing Christmas hits as
well as some of their regular faves. Event is free with proceeds from the mulled
wine going to us. From 8pm
December 16: Service users Christmas party, with alcohol­free mulled wine and
a buffet, plus children from local junior school, St. Aidan's, will sing carols.

8. 12/3/2015 Amazing experiences shared at our storytelling fundraiser, another award for our allotment and new dates for our Mental Health Awareness Training
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