It may have been the final Feel the Rhythm, Beat the Stigma event of the year last week, but the team did an excellent job in ensuring that it ended on a high note.

Our Community Engagement team, with the help from volunteers across Endeavour Court, Mary Seacole, Zinnia Centre and Maple Leaf successfully delivered a summer of feel-good music, community spirit and mental health education.

A special thank you to our Maple Leaf team who each played their part in making the last event a success, with our biggest turn out to date. We would also like to share our appreciation to the volunteers, bands, local artists and businesses that gave up their time to support us this summer.

As well as enjoying soulful music, dance classes, delicious food, spa treatments, pottery classes and other fun activities, people left more knowledgeable about mental health support services and where to get help if they needed it. 

One in four of us struggle with our mental health at some point in our lives. Events like this help to destigmatise mental illnesses and give people the chance to learn from NHS professionals – not just what they see on TV or read about in the media.

Reflecting on the past few months, Beresford Dawkins, Community Engagement Lead said:

As the sun shone brightly on the final event at Maple Leaf Centre, we all experienced what is to be a community that is compassionate, inclusive and committed. We were united in a common purpose, challenging mental health stigma and improving mental health literacy.

Feel the Rhythm, Beat the Stigma will be back next summer and promises to be bigger and better – watch this space.