Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

Instead of our regular meet up, this Thursday 10th January we'll be holding a pottery workshop run by ceramacist Laura Negus. We still have a small number of spaces left - BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Places are on a first come first served basis - please email ASAP if you'd like to come. The pottery workshop will take place from 6 - 8pm at Old Bank Building on Hanover Street, very close to Shudehill metrolink. If you've already booked I'll be in touch with more details. We will not be holding our regular meeting this month.  We'll be back from February at our NEW venue - the Old Bank Building on Hanover Street...more details to follow next month.

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, ...

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.