As Lockdown measures and restrictions continue to be eased, our team appreciate the desire which many people have, to come back into our College Road building in a safe and positive way.
We are delighted to be able to confirm that from the 10th of May, our Gardening Group will return to Holland Road between 2pm and 4pm every Monday. This group will be facilitated with strict social distancing in place – and we hope it will provide people with an opportunity to get back outdoors and slowly begin to grow their confidence in accessing face-to-face services again.
To complement this service, we can also confirm that from the 14th of May our Walking Group will return – with the aim for it to be hosted at Mote Park in Maidstone. Clients are invited to meet us at the Café in Mote Park at 2pm every Friday – where we will then walk around the park for an hour whilst maintaining appropriate social distancing. This group will run every Friday from 2pm – 3pm – and there will be a photography element to the group, so if you are interested in photography, then come along.
From the 19th of May our Arts Group will be back in the building from 2pm till 4pm every Wednesday – with social distancing measures in place. This will take the place of the virtual afternoon art group – but we will continue to offer a morning virtual session in partnership with our friends at Fusion Healthy Living Centre. This in-person Social Group will be limited capacity – with bookings needing to be made in advance via bookings@midkentmind.org.uk.
From the 20th May, we will be offering a face to face ‘Mindfulness Group’ in the building from 2:30pm – 4pm – providing weekly activities about improving mindfulness and wellbeing. This will take the place of the traditional face-to-face social group, with spaces limited, and bookings needing to be made via bookings@midkentmind.org.uk.
To compliment this service we will be offering a brand new virtual Social Group – taking the form of a quiz and a conversation every Thursday from 1pm till 2pm. This can be accessed via ZOOM, and participants can click here every Thursday to access services.
Our virtual Peer Support Group on the third Thursday of every month will also continue to be made available in a virtual capacity – taking place from 10am to 11am on the third Thursday of every month. Service users can click here to access the Peer Support group.
Alongside this group, our virtual Singing Group every Tuesday will also continue in a virtual capacity – taking place from 11am – 12pm. Service Users can click here to learn more about the Singing Group.
We hope that this mixed return to services will offer a wide amount of support – enabling us to engage individuals who have suffered without face to face services, whilst also allowing us to continue to offer a more limited assortment of virtual services for individuals who have found the online support we are offering beneficial. It is a difficult balance, but we are hopeful that this format of return to services will put us in the best position to return to a ‘new normal’.
We know that a return to a new normal will be difficult for many of us – and to ease this we have also collated some additional support services available in Kent. Please click here to view them.
You can e-mail our team via mindhelp@midkentmind.org.uk if you have any questions about our changes to services. You are also welcome to contact our team on the telephone via 07534 044513.
