From 14th – 18th May 2018 it was Mental Health Awareness Week. To celebrate and raise awareness for the week, Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind organised an event for Time to Change! Kelly Smith, Greater Manchester Time to Change (TTC) Hub Lead organised an incredible event at Positive Steps in Oldham with the help of Champions; Clare, Danielle and Julie!

TOG Mind were joined by The Open Shutters Project, the Early Help team, Get Oldham Working and Home Start who came to support the day and promote their incredible work and services.

Cllr Shadab Qumer (The Mayor of Oldham), Jenny Higson (CEO and Chairwoman of TOG Mind), Cheryl Eastwood, and Kelly Smith (GM TTC Hub Lead) all came together to judge the Children and Young People’s Art Competition. The task was to create a piece of art that reflected their feelings, how they viewed mental health, what helped to make them happy or something related to mental health awareness.

The event was successful in raising awareness of services in the local community, and helped to recruit even more Time to Change Champions and pledged organisations.

You can read more about what TTC is, how to become a TTC Champion, and what pledged organisations are in our area by visiting our page here.

Carolyn Wilkins (CEO of Oldham Council), and Darren Bee (North West TTC Coordinator) also joined the event to take a look at the stalls, chat with members of staff and volunteers, and have a cup of tea and a cake!

This was the first Time to Change event that has been held in Oldham and we can’t wait for the next event to help raise awareness around World Mental Health Day in October! If you would like any more information or how you can be involved with the Hub please get in touch.

Community events such as this are so important for us at Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind to support community groups to meet, hold events, and help us share what we can offer and to signpost those groups out in the community to what help they and their members can access.

If you’ve been inspired by this story and are interested in helping us to run and event or running your own event, or if you just want to donate then contact fundraising [at] togmind.org. For more information about TOG Mind and our services then you can visit our website at www.togmind.org or you can call 0161 330 9223.