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A short history of MHM Wales
1984 Inaugural meeting to discuss the
establishment of a Mind group, this opportunity was created around the
purchase of a property in Bridgend to provide accommodation for people with
mental health problems and the need for this to be managed by a voluntary
group.
1985 Ogwr
Mind founded and a part-time Development worker (funded under Urban Aid
money) employed and based at Sunnyside Social Services Dept. A Sunday
afternoon drop-in functioned from Ty’r Ardd Day Centre, this depended
entirely on volunteers.
1987 Purchase of 63 Nolton Street with money from the
Tudor Trust. One full-time development worker employed.
1988 – 89 Renovations and
refurbishment of building completed. Second hand shop fronted the small
sitting room used as a ‘drop-in’; this was a common idea at the time and
was intended to protect people using the centre from stigma and
discrimination.
1990 The All Wales Mental Illness Strategy
(1989) facilitated the employment of 2 workers – a full time co-ordinator
and part-time Centre Development Worker (this strategy focused on the
closure of Victorian Psychiatric Hospitals and the development of community
based services)
1992 Employment of a part-time housing worker for
housing project – staff now consist to 1 full-time worker, 2 part-time
workers 6 shop volunteers.
1993 Extensive review of the shop facilities
and drop-in. Unanimous decision to close the shop – people felt there was
more stigma attached to using a second hand shop than there was to a mental
health drop-in centre! Big step for the organisation in terms of becoming
‘user’ focused and involving people who use the service in its developments.
Centre members agreed to role of future volunteers and wrote a job
description plus took an active part in the recruitment process. The centre
was open 3 times per week utilising mainly volunteers.
1996 Appointment of a part-time Information
Worker and Admin worker with recurring money from Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust.
1
full-time worker
5
part-time workers
1997 Organisation becomes Mental Health
Matters (Bridgend County Borough), rational behind this was that the
trustees were spending more and more time having to respond to
consultations and papers from National Mind
that they had little time to address local issues.
Availability
of additional funding via the Local Mental Health Grants Scheme meant an
expansion to the centre staff – 3 centre assistants appointed 13 hrs each
week. Two of the existing volunteers were successful in their application.
Centre members very active in this whole process.
Appointment of User
Involvement Officer (Lottery funded), the Patients’ Council post (2000) is
a development from this.
2001 Extension
to housing services – appointment of 2 housing workers (part-time)
2003 Staff
team split to establish a Central Office at Cambria House, with all service
providers remain at Nolton Street.
2004 Appointment of 3 staff for the Community
Advocacy Service – this was a milestone in the development of advocacy for
people not in a hospital setting.
2005 - Staff team now total 15
Appointment
of a Befriending Co-ordinator – this marked an important step forward in
terms of how MHM is able to roll out services across BCB.
Implementation of
first stages of strategic plan.
Appointment of
Assistant Director,
Review of Object of
Mental Health Matters and
Move to
becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee (greater financial protection for
trustees)
2007 rebranded and became Mental Health Matters Wales
September 2007 Mental Health Matters Wales
becomes an accredited IMCA service training provider
October 2007 MHM Wales launches IMCA services
across South Wales operating in Swansea - Port
Talbot - Bridgend - Vale of Glamorgan - Rhondda Cynon Taff - Cardiff -
Caerphilly - Merthyr Tydfil - Blaenau Gwent - Newport - Torfaen –
Monmouthshire
November 2008 MHM Wales Launches IMHA service in the South East
Wales area, covering Caerphilly - Blaenau Gwent – Newport - Torfaen –
Monmouthshire
2010 Mental Health Matters Wales celebrates its
25th silver anniversary. The Organisation has been running for 25 years and
now employs 26 staff across 12 unitary authorities.
October 2011
Working in partnership with Bridgend People First a Befriending Project for
people who have mental health related problems or learning disabilities
over the age of 50 in the Bridgend County Borough is launched.
January 2012
The Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 (Part 4) includes compulsory
patients under sections 4 and 5 Mental Health Act 1983 to access an IMHA
means an expansion of the IMHA scheme.
April 2012 Working in partnership with Bridgend
Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) Mental Health Matters Wales
launches over 50’s Befriending Café’s in the Bridgend County Borough.
September 2013 Working with Bridgend Association of Voluntary
Organisations (BAVO) as part of the Big Lottery Fund Community Voice,
Mental Health Matters Wales launches ‘Self Harm-Self Help’ It aim to
establish self-help groups for people of adult age who self-harm this will
provide local intelligence to Commissioners, providers on the delivery of
services relevant to people who self-harm.
May 2014 Commissioned
to deliver the IMCA services in
the Hywel Dda Health Board Area (Carmarthen, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion).
January 2015
Sees MHMWales Launch “Talking Connections” a new counselling service in the
Bridgend Borough.
April 2015 The Befriending service launches
a telephone befriending project for the over 50’s living in the Bridgend
Borough.
April 2015 MHM Wales is commissioned to
provide the Paid Relevant Persons Representative (PRPR) in Rhondda Cynon
Taff & Merthyr.
February 2016 Development of the “Litigation
Friend” service
October 2016 MHM Wales launches its Mental
Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Service in Bridgend Borough, funded by the
Lloyds Foundation.
November 2016 MHM Wales is asked if it can take
over the eating disorder group delivered in Bridgend to stop it from
closing. This is agreed and the Eating Disorder Group SORTED is launched as
the previous supporter would not allow their name to be used.
January 2017 MHM Wales is commissioned to
provide pilot cognitive therapeutic care to those with an impairment of the
brain or mind at UHW Cardiff – Due to success of pilot, service is
continued.
April 2017 MHM Wales is commissioned to
deliver the pilot Independent Professional Advocacy Service (IPA) in the
Bridgend Borough in line with the Social Services and Well-being (Wales)
Act 2014 Part 10 (and related parts).
MHMWales continues to be independent of government
and is ‘value-driven’. As a charity we are determined to achieve our aims
and values supporting those affected by mental health across Wales
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