"Brilliant wellbeing course for Mums"

This was a brilliant course run by Hawtonville Children's Centre. I have mental health issues and have found it difficult to attend therapies offer by my local NHS adult mental health services as I have a one year old Daughter, and no childcare available to me so that I can attend specific mental health therapies.

This wellbeing course was provided with additional childcare on site though and that really was what enabled me to attend. I am very anxious in new social situations and had never been to the Centre before but I was made to feel so welcome and everything was explained clearly regarding where everything was in the centre, who the staff were and the crèche system, which alleviated some of my anxiety.

Once in the wellbeing session I thoroughly enjoyed myself, which is something I don't say often as usually I'm too busy worrying to enjoy things. The room was set out in such a calming, friendly way, with the addition of background calming music so that there was no need to fill any silences. Each week we did new activities, and had ongoing activities to keep going with if we didn't feel up to taking part in the main group activity. There was no pressure to join in, but the encouraging atmosphere helped me to step outside my comfort zone and I feel more confident in my every day life having completed this course. I rarely feel worthy of any time to do anything for myself, but this course gave me permission to have this and I'm hopeful that it will help me kick start new positive patterns of behaviour which will benefit me, and my family.

This group was gentle enough not to feel intimidating, which I feel is so important when it's being provided for people that may be more sensitive than others. There was a deliberate mix of 'one do at home' crafts like bracelet making, and more complex crafts or activities like professionally instructed yoga, to inspire us that we could go on and take control in our own homes/ lives to continue to develop outside of the course, but also that we could aim for more than just things that can be done at home if we so wished which was aspirational.

We were also told about a volunteering scheme within the centre which would have completely panicked me on the first session, but at the last session when it was mentioned I was very interested, so I think the course has had a profound impact on myself. I have had involvement with mental health services for around ten years on and off, and very rarely have I felt that the therapies/professionals/services I have attended as part of this care, actually wanted me to be there. I didn't feel worthy of this input most of the time, and felt this was reciprocated back to me which didn't aid my mental health issues.

This course at Hawtonville Children's Centre however was completely different. For one of the first times in years I felt like the staff here went out of their way for me, and therefore gave me a worth that I haven't experienced in a long time. Having some mental health issues, I often feel like I am a burden to the people around me, but taking part in this course has taught me that I am worthy of assistance, and that I can continue to make positive changes in my life, after the course.

As I have said above, I found this course pivotal in facilitating a new way of thinking, which I am hoping will really help me to continue to move in the right direction and transform my life, work through my issues, and become a better version of myself.