Morays ‘mental wealth’ boosted during COVID19 crisis
Keeping positive and connected is proving a struggle for many people of all ages right now. Moray folk are using online tools like much of the country but there are barriers that make it tricky to connect for the more anxious, those less tech confident or facing financial worries.
As the local social movement, Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC have released a timetable with daily opportunities for connection and support to meet this need. Over the next four weeks anyone in Moray can sign up to online run supportive spaces that aim to connect or help you learn something new.
Events include community locality gatherings, splitting Moray in four and hosting an informal chat with folk in your area each lunchtime. Also, creative art sessions weekly, supporting your child courses for parents and even a wellbeing session for young folk under 16 and up to 25.
Those supporting others or volunteering in communities are not forgotten either. Two introductions to mental health first aid are being run to skill folk out helping others. Plus, for those having anxiety around job seeking there is a course for them as well.
All sessions are led by peers, people from Moray who have their own experiences of mental health challenges and use these alongside professional skills and materials. You can volunteer to join the team of Champions running events and supporting others.
Online needn’t be an extra expense. Thanks to The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation and the William Grant Foundation small costs such as extra data, webcams and internet costs can be covered. All activity is currently supported by Moray LEADER as part of the ‘Wellbeing Connected Moray’ project.
As well as events there is 1-2-1 support with Community Connectors looking to match with those isolated to connect online, the offer to help you host a new local group or to help an existing group get online. Plus, positive social media and weekly email newsletters.
Feedback from trials of the groups has had great results;
“Thanks to the Champion team I was able to gain the confidence to join in with a virtual art class on zoom. I then managed to chat to my grandchildren and see their faces – it made me so happy!”
“As a young person I felt supported to join in, it was nice to see the other faces of people I had not met.”
Hardcopies of the information are available to organisations doing wellbeing deliveries in the community to those self-isolating. Please contact to request copies.
