A great success in the centre of Bath

St MungosBroadway and Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust (AWP), worked in partnership with volunteers and other organisations, to create Eat, Talk, Think on Old Bond St, which provided thought provoking activities related to this year’s theme of ‘Dignity in Mental Health’.

We were part of something much bigger in Bath & NE Somerset, as other partner organisations were running events in Paulton, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, and Friends Meeting House in Bath.

Eat, Talk Think was all about engaging with the general public. Standout points included:

The Bath Samba band starting the day off.

There were over 400 hundred Wellbeing cakes made and given out by volunteers. Each cake resulted in a conversation about how the cake, grey in the middle and colourful on the outside, might reflect someone’s mental health. The volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day, encouraging passers by to take part.

Helen, a human book entitled ‘What’s it really like working on a mental health ward?’, wondered why people were taking photos, until she found out the person who had booked her out for a 15 minute conversation was @MrJonnyBenjamin, known for his film ‘Stranger on the Bridge’.

Creativity Works helped people create So far So good paper butterflies. The butterflies, with their inspiring messages, were given by their creators to the person of their choice.  A ten year old decided to create a fortune teller, and included the message ‘You’re not alone’.

Nicky and her volunteers, who included AWP BANES Clinical Director Dr Bill Bruce-Jones and psychiatrist Dr Richard Stanton, gave out ‘Only Us’ badges, and had conversations based on the stereotype – there’s “them” – and then there’s “us”.

Sophie created a tree full of Mind Apples. Each apple was created by a member of the public, with their 5-a-day for mental health.

Bath University volunteers joined Off the Record for a great stigma busting session with large Wheel of Fortune.