How Do You Get Through Tricky Times?
Here comes September, and I find myself curling into the brace position, breathing laboured, knuckles white.
I have found September tricky for a long time. Partly due to the anniversary of a traumatic time in my life, but also because of the change in pace. I love the leisurely stroll of summer, with time off work, holidays, trips to the beach and salad for tea. (And if we are fortunate, some sunshine!) I flourish in the slowness of it all. When summer slips into September, I feel a sense of loss, knowing that summer is gone for another year and the next one seems so far away.
Volunteering at Night Light Can Change your Life!
by Pam Jenkinson – Night Light Project Worker
According to the Citizens Advice Bureau, every volunteer gets something different from their volunteering experience. Whether this is by making a positive difference to people’s lives, improving their own self-esteem and wellbeing or gaining invaluable work experience. At the Night Light Cafes our volunteers all come from different backgrounds, life experiences and motives, each bringing a different flavour to the teams they work in. We value each and every one of them and are so grateful they willingly give up their time to support our guests who are struggling with their mental health.
Rubble Rumbles: How do you cope with overwhelm?
by Stacey Marriott Night Light Café Manager
This week I woke one morning to find myself crushed and depleted beneath a mounting heap of overwhelm. I could hear the screech of brakes and the tumble of rubble as the tipper trucks approached and let down their load.
What’s New with the Night Light Cafes?
by Stacey Marriott – Night Light Cafe Manager
The Night Light Cafes continues to be part of the NHS Community Mental Health Transformation Programme, which is being rolled out throughout England and Acts Trust. The project has seen a lot of change over recent months, including the launch of new cafes and the welcoming of new team members, so here is a whistle stop update!
A Lesson from my Cheese Plant
by Stacey Marriott – Night Light Cafe Manager
I recently googled the pointy things that are growing out of my cheese plant and discovered that they are called ‘aerial roots’ and grow to latch on to other plants to give support to the cheese plant as it grows. Wow! The cheese plant by design develops its own support structure. How cleverly created.
An Interview with one of Night Light Cafe’s new Network Leads
with Pam Jenkinson and Dean Bell
The Night Light Cafe team are very excited to recently employ three new members of staff. Two will oversee the running of our Countywide cafes in the North and South of Lincolnshire. Another member of staff will support them both as a Project Worker. Dean Bell, has become our Network Lead for the South of Lincolnshire and I chatted with him about his new role:-
How to become a Night Light Volunteer
by Michelle Russell – Night Light Project Worker
Volunteering for a project like the Night Light Cafe, can be a really rewarding thing to do. But sometimes it can be quite daunting not knowing what the process will be like and how it works. So, I spoke with our Project Worker, Pam Jenkinson, who coordinates the new volunteer’s for our cafes.
Interview with Night Light Cafe Team Leader – Emma Bell
by Kerry Robinson – Assistant Coordinator for Night Light Cafe
I met up with one of our lovely team leaders – Emma to ask them about their experience of leading a Night Light Cafe.
The Soaring Use of Food Banks
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people turning to food banks for assistance. This rise in food bank usage is a worry.
Inside the Night Light Cafe
by Pam Jenkinson – Night Light Cafe Project Worker
The Night Light Cafes are an out of hours, non-clinical support service for people who are struggling with their mental health. These safe spaces are hosted by teams of trained volunteers, who provide a warm welcome alongside a listening service and signposting advice.
But what does it look like inside our cafes? What would you expect to see?
Acts Trust moves in to Beaumont Manor
We have moved into our new HQ!
Beaumont Manor, a lovely Grade 2 listed heritage building in the centre of Lincoln has reopened after 6 years of being unused.
