Mental Health Awareness Week: Growing Together Through Community

This Mental Health Awareness Week, 12 - 18 May 2025, we’re shining a spotlight on how our community can be a powerful force for wellbeing. As Laura Reynolds from our Youth and Community team puts it, “It’s a chance to start conversations about mental health and allow people to share their experiences and feel supported.”

At Coin Street, mental health support doesn’t always look like therapy rooms or formal check-ins. Sometimes it’s planting bulbs in Bernie Spain Gardens, sharing a pot of herbal tea, laughing over a board game, or spotting how someone’s doing during a coffee morning quiz. It’s all about connection and it’s everywhere in our neighbourhood.

Nature, Creativity, and Conversations That Matter

While all of our sessions are designed with wellbeing in mind, Laura highlights our Gentle Gardening group as something special. “The combination of being out in nature and being part of a supportive group can make a real difference to people’s wellbeing,” she says. There’s something quietly powerful about planting seeds and watching them grow, it brings hope, calm, and a sense of purpose.

Our art group feels much the same, with participants calling the sessions “creative therapy”. Creating something together, visiting exhibitions, and having space for reflection offers a mental reset many of us don’t realise we need.

Then there are the buzzing, social spaces like coffee mornings and Youth Night. These might seem like simple get-togethers, but they’re filled with moments of care. Behind the scenes, our team is always checking in, making sure no one feels invisible or alone.

Why It Matters

Connection is at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s through learning new skills, building confidence, or just feeling like you belong; our activities are about being seen, heard, and valued.

One recent participant told us: “You are all doing a splendid job. Have really felt better after attending past activities.” Simple words, but they speak volumes. When someone feels better just by showing up, we know we’re doing something right.

A Village in the City

In a fast-paced place like Waterloo, it can be easy to feel lost in the crowd. But Laura believes that when you feel part of your community, “it can feel like a village.”  We create welcoming spaces where real conversations can happen, where people can laugh, learn, and lift each other up.

Laura also sees the impact these moments have on her personally. “My mental health really benefits from doing a job that feels meaningful,” she says. And it’s not just about staff; volunteering or taking part in a group helps others feel they’re making a difference, too. That shared sense of purpose is good for all of us.

Thinking of Getting Involved?

If you’ve never joined one of our sessions before and feel a little nervous, Laura has one simple message: “We’re a really friendly team and have such a brilliant neighbourhood, just come along and try a session to see if it’s for you.”

Laura was recently told about the Meaningful May website and wants to highlight it in her blog. This Mental Health Awareness Week, why not give it a go? You might discover new friends, new skills, or just a new way to feel more grounded in your day. And if all else fails, a cup of tea and a chat in Bernie Spain Gardens is always a good place to start.