Who are we?
Cam-mind is the longest established mental health charity in Cambridge – having supported local people experiencing mental health problems since 1908.
Our service users are among the 1 in 4 people in this region who will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. This includes conditions such as depression and anxiety – now the biggest cause of absence from work – together with bipolar disorder, eating disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia, among others.
Mental health problems can happen to anyone, and most people can and do recover.
Cam-mind’s services support local mental health service users on their road to recovery by offering a broad range of community-based projects, all designed to help re-build confidence, provide social support and prevent isolation.
Cam-mind is affiliated to, but not funded by, national Mind. We are committed to challenging the prejudices and misunderstandings that undermine recovery from mental health problems.
What do we do?
Working in partnership with Cambridge Housing Association, Cam-mind supports more than 20 adults with longer term mental health difficulties.
Our befriending scheme carefully matches service users and volunteers on a one to one basis. They meet for an hour or so a week to pursue an activity of mutual interest within the community.
Cam-mind facilitates a range of community groups. These include arts & crafts, pottery, cookery skills, textiles, football training, gardening and social activities.
Cam-mind provides a community group in Sawston as well as a limited befriending service for people living in this and other rural areas. We are committed to expanding this service, which reaches some of the most isolated individuals within our community.
Cam-mind is committed to raising awareness of mental health issues and to tackling the stigma and discrimination that is often the biggest barrier to recovery.
We are working locally to provide mental health/wellbeing workshops and information to local businesses and organisations, and will be among the first in the region to deliver the new, nationally-recognised Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. |
Who can use our services?
Cam-mind’s services are open to anyone with a mental health diagnosis living in Cambridge City, East and South Cambridgeshire, subject to meeting our referral criteria.* Access to our services is available via referral from a mental health professional, such as a CPN or psychiatrist – although referrals from GPs and support workers will also be considered. Referral forms are available on request.
*Please see our referral forms for details.
Service user involvement
Cam-mind’s services are developed in collaboration with our service users. Our Service User Group is central to this process, providing a platform for all our service users to have their say on how our services are run both now and in the future.
We are committed to continuing this process and to involving mental health service users and survivors in all aspects of our organisation.
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