Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

It's our annual Christmas group meet up this Thursday 13th December from 6:00 - 7:30pm. We will be meeting at Ziferblat Cafe on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter area of the city centre. We will cover costs for anyone who attends. Ziferblat Cafe is opposite the previous MadLab venue, for those who remember it - directions here  https://www.ziferblat.co. uk/edge-street/  ...entry is at street level, just press the buzzer to gain access then use stairs or the lift to get up to the cafe. We can no longer use MadLab as the space they were renting is run by another another organisation - PLANT - which itself is relocating.  January's pottery workshop will go ahead at usual but will be at PLANT's new venue. Update to follow in the new year.

A group of us tried our hand at laser cutting last Thursday 8th Nov as part of some activities we've had funded by the Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust's Wellbeing Fund.  Our tutor showed us how to design a simple key ring using a computer program called Inkscape, then demonstrating cutting the designs out onto wooden board using a laser cutter. Ta da! Something completely new for us all and much enjoyed. Thanks to MadLab for running the workshop - have a look at their website for all the workshops, activities and groups they have going on.

In place of our regular monthly meeting we are holding a one-off creative workshop, this Thursday 8th November from 6-8pm at MadLab. You MUST register your name for the workshop in advance. It is free of charge to all who register - see details below. PLEASE NOTE: no regular meeting this month - creative workshop only. MADLAB DIRECTIONS - see https://madlab.org.uk/find-us/ **UPCOMING GROUP ACTIVITIES** *CREATIVE WORKSHOPS* Thanks to funding from the Manchester Wellbeing Fund and also a generous donation, we have two fantastic creative workshops coming up. Both are FREE to group members but places are limited. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis with priority given to people who have attended our group meetings over the past year. Workshop 1:  Laser and vinyl cutting. Thursday 8th November from 6:00 - 8:00pm. At MadLab.Two hour introduction to laser cutting. Starting with the basics of designing in Inkscape, you’ll go on to create a beautiful, uniq

Our next meeting is this Thursday 11th October at the usual time of 6 - 7:30pm at MadLab - PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION. Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all.  Meetings will take place on the second Thursday of the month for the foreseeable future. **THIS MONTH'S SPEAKER** We are lucky to have a mental health nurse coming to talk to us about her work to increase therapeutic interventions as an alternative to medication. Jackie qualified as a mental health nurse in 2005 and worked in adult acute inpatient care at Meadowbrook till 2015.  Following this she worked in an Approved Premises as a CPN working with male offenders whom were on licence from Custody. Jackie's talk will take place promptly at 6:15 and will end by 7pm (including Q&A). The meeting will continue until 7:30pm for anyone who would like to stay. MADLAB HAS MOVED -

Our regular monthly meetings have now moved from the second Wednesday to the second THURSDAY of the month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 11th October, Thursday 8th November and Thursday 13th December. Still at the usual time of 6 - 7:30pm at MadLab  (next to the CIS tower). All welcome.

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE Due to venues issues, we will be meeting this coming THURSDAY 13th September at the usual time of 6 - 7:30pm at MadLab - PLEASE ALSO NOTE NEW LOCATION. Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all. Meetings will take place on the second Thursday of the month for the foreseeable future. MADLAB HAS MOVED - see https://madlab.org.uk/find-us/ Our AGM We have had to postpone our AGM from May until September due to venue issues and the football world cup.  It will take place from 6:15 - 6:30pm on Thursday 13th.

We'll be meeting next Wednesday 8th August from 6 - 7:30pm at MadLab (please note new location, details below). Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all. MadLab has moved to a new venue, inside a centre called ‘PLANT NOMA’, on Dantzic Street, Manchester, M60 0AE. It’s located on the opposite side of Dantzic Street from the CIS Tower – 2 minutes walk from Shudehill Metrolink and 5 minutes from Victoria Station. The building itself is on Dantzic St, but entrance is actually on Mayes St which is a pedestrianised street just off Dantzic (see photo of entrance below). Map and directions here https://madlab.org.uk/find-us/  Here's a photo of the entrance on Mayes Street Our AGM We have had to postpone our AGM from May until our meeting on 12th September due to venue issues and the football world cup.  It will take place from 6:15 - 6

Due to England playing in the World Cup semi finals this Wednesday, we've taken the decision to cancel this month's meeting...with apologies to any of you who aren't football fans! Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 8th August at the usual time. I'm looking forward to getting settled into the new MadLab venue. It's a great space and easier to find than before. Our AGM will now be postponed to Weds 12th September as it won't be appropriate to hold it during the summer when many of us will be away.  If you'd like to be added to our group mailing list to get more news about local events please email me at rethinkmanchester@gmail.com

We'll be meeting this Wednesday 13th June, 6 - 7:30pm. PLEASE NOTE: meeting will take place at Ziferblat cafe , 1st Floor, 23 Edge Street, Manchester M4 1HW. Ziferblat is directly opposite where our meetings have taken place until last month at MadLab on Edge Street.  All are welcome - teas and coffees are on us :) All being well we will be back at MadLab from next month (in their new building). They are having some soundproofing work done at the new building - there is a choir in on the same evening as us so it could be a bit noisy otherwise! AGM postponed:  Because we're meeting in the Ziferblat cafe this month our AGM will be postponed until our 11th July meeting.

We'll be meeting  next Wednesday 9th May from  6 - 7:30pm  at MadLab. Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all. MadLab is located on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter just a short walk from Piccadilly Station, Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill Metrolink. See MadLab's 'how to find us' page for more:  Our speaker for May's meeting: Jackie Pickup Jackie will be talking about her work to encourage use of therapeutic treatment, rather than medication. Having completed some research about 'PRN' medication ('as needed' mediation - medication that is given for a specific situation, rather than taken routinely) she has set up an information campaign within the trust to increase therapeutic interventions as an alternative to PRN medication.  Jackie qualified as a mental health nurse in 2005 and worked in adult acu

Transforming Mental Health Services in the Czech Republic: Presentation and Discussion 14.00, Monday, 16th April 2018  at MACC Offices, Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, M4 5JW IMHCN and MACC are holding a meeting to provide an opportunity to meet with mental health workers from the Czech Republic who are visiting mental health services and organisations in Manchester. The workers are from FOKUS an NGO based in Prague, Czech Republic.  Fokus are unique in the range and complexity of services provided for people experiencing long-term mental health problems in the Czech Republic. They offer social and medical services in five centres in Prague and one in the town Mělník. They are taking active part in the process of transformation of psychiatric care in the Czech Republic. You are welcome to attend and contribute to the discussion. If you would like to confirm your attendance please go to Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ e/transforming-mental-hea

We'll be meeting this coming Wednesday 11th April from 6 - 7:30pm at MadLab. Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all. We have Laoise Renwick, a speaker from the University of Manchester coming to ask for our input on what the priorities should be for psychosis research. It's not often that we get to influence the early stages of research so do come along if you can. See below for more about Laoise and the VIP Project. MadLab is located on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter just a short walk from Piccadilly Station, Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill Metrolink. See MadLab's 'how to find us' page for more: https://madlab.org.uk/find-us/ I'm not sure whether we'll be in the upstairs or downstairs meeting room. If you're not sure then just press the 'Office' buzzer and you'll be directed. --- About Laoise :

Just had information sent to us about a new 10 week course starting 24th May in Levenshulme, for anyone with lived experience of mental health problems, all about being creative through writing, drama and filmmaking. Contact details below.

We'll be meeting this coming Wednesday 14th March from  6 - 7:30pm at MadLab. Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all. MadLab is located on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter just a short walk from Piccadilly Station, Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill Metrolink. See MadLab's 'how to find us' page for more:  https://madlab.org.uk/fi nd-us/ I'm not sure whether we'll be in the upstairs or downstairs meeting room. If you're not sure then just press the 'Office' buzzer and you'll be directed. Not long now, are you coming?... Folk Train trip - Thursday 26th April All group members are invited to our first social event of the year - a trip on the Folk Train from Manchester Piccadilly station to Glossop. The train will leave at 6:46pm and you'll have the option of arriving back at Piccadilly for eith

We have a new group poster and leaflet. If you know anywhere locally where you could ask to display a copy please let me know via rethinkmanchester@gmail.com and I can send you a pdf or post out a hard copy.

We'll be meeting next Wednesday 14th February (happy Valentines!) from  6 - 7:30pm at MadLab. Whether you've been coming to the group for years or have never been, we're here to give you a warm welcome and a friendly ear. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all. MadLab is located on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter just a short walk from Piccadilly Station, Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill Metrolink. See MadLab's 'how to find us' page for more:  https://madlab.org.uk/fi nd-us/ Please note: we will be in the UPSTAIRS meeting room - just press the buzzer and someone will let you in. You can also press the Office buzzer to gain access. Date for your diaries... Folk Train trip - Thursday 26th April All group members are invited to our first social event of the year - a trip on the Folk Train from Manchester Piccadilly station to Glossop. The train will leave at 6:46pm and you'll have the option of arriving back at Piccadilly for either 9:10pm