New mental health support group launched at Hillcrest in Whitehaven

Healthy Hopes is running the drop-in sessions at Hillcrest Community Centre, after being awarded funding from the Copeland Community Fund.

The member-led sessions cover a range of topics and after being successfully trialled at Hillcrest before Christmas, will now feature on the Healthy Hopes diary for the coming year.  

Mike Hawkins, group facilitator at Healthy Hopes, said: “The groups are very nurturing and supportive of each other. It’s about people who maybe don’t need the full interventions with counselling or psychiatric help.

“We all struggle from time to time. Having support in an environment where no one judges you, is a format that really works.

“We have open sessions with tea and coffee, play a game or a quiz then have a health and wellbeing session.

“We’ve been really grateful for the funding from Copeland Community Fund and the support from Hillcrest. We are getting good feedback from our clients.”

Other groups are held in Whitehaven at the Senhouse Centre, New Life Church and St Begh’s, with funding from Well Whitehaven.

The sessions are being held at Hillcrest Community Centre (Image: Mike Hawkins)

Mr Hawkins, who is also a borough and county councillor, said: “We are trying to branch out into different areas. Hillcrest is one of the areas where there hasn’t been anything for a while.

“On my role on the county council, I’m an autism champion and I’m a big advocate for mental health.

“I think it’s really good that we have organisations such as Healthy Hopes, Mind Ya Marras, Together We and Always Another Way, that weren’t around 20 years ago and people would be struggling for support.”

The Healthy Hopes sessions at Hillcrest Community Centre are held on Fridays, between 11am and 1pm.

The sessions are free to attend and booking is not required.

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