Member Article

Leading Mental Health Charities Plan Tranquil Takeover For Birmingham's Stressed-Out Shoppers

Two of the city’s leading mental health organisations – Living Well UK and Birmingham Mind – have joined forces in an effort to bring peace and serenity to the hustle and bustle of Birmingham City Centre. The takeover - celebrating the launch of Birmingham Mind’s city centre Wellbeing Hub - will take place on 7 October 2023, offering workshops for families, children and adults throughout the day.

As part of an ongoing collaboration, Living Well UK will take over Birmingham Mind’s city centre Wellbeing Hub to offer visitors and locals a quiet escape from the crowds of Saturday shoppers

Open from 10am until 4pm on October 7th, the event will feature workshops for all ages at different points in the day, as well as wellbeing experts to signpost those who want more information on where to turn for support.

Between 10am and 1pm, families and those with young children will have the chance to take a break, thanks to a host of child-friendly workshops and activities on offer, including a smoothie bike, face painting, rock painting and a glitter station. While the kids get stuck into the activities, adults will be able to take five, have a cuppa and enjoy what might be their first conversation with an adult that day – not to be taken for granted!

Then, from 2pm until 4pm, the space will be transformed into a haven of relaxation, with sound baths, guided meditation, and live acoustic music, to transport visitors away from the city – even for a moment – and into a calming, stress-free headspace.

Whether it is a quick chat about stress-busting techniques or an in-depth discussion about more specific mental health concerns, the team from Living Well UK will be on hand throughout the day to offer free advice and signposting to anyone needing mental health support.

Ben Howells, Chief Executive Officer at Living Well UK, comments:

“In the blink of an eye, we’ve left summer behind us and are now looking forward to the winter months, including Christmas. With that comes the start of Christmas shopping and the stress of a Saturday shopping trip – while many people might choose to purchase online or visit the shops during off-peak hours, for many it isn’t an option.

“That’s why we wanted to create this temporary haven for people to visit, as a way for them to take a break from the chaos of the city centre on a Saturday. We’re incredibly excited to see how it turns out and to provide people with what is likely a much-needed quiet space, even for a minute of peace.

“We regularly work with Birmingham Mind and are thrilled to be doing so again for this project. It’s great to be able to join forces with such a brilliant organisation and we hope we can continue to do so!”

The takeover aims to celebrate and raise awareness about Birmingham Mind’s new drop-in Wellbeing Hub in the city centre, based in Link Street. In addition to providing a safe, secure environment for anyone aged 18 and over seeking mental health advice, support and signposting, the Wellbeing Hub will also hold a variety of events and workshops throughout the week.

Helen Wadley, CEO at Birmingham Mind, adds:

“Venturing into a busy city like Birmingham can be daunting, no matter whether you’re a local or a visitor for the day. Added to that the pressure of a shopping trip and it can very quickly become overwhelming! We hope that, in promoting our Link Street Wellbeing Hub with this takeover, we can encourage more people in need of support to make use of the services that both Birmingham Mind and Living Well UK offer.

“It really is a safe, calm, welcoming space in the heart of the city centre and we really hope that this project will truly show that!”

Those interested in attending the takeover or visiting the Wellbeing Hub can visit at the following address: Bullring & Grand Central, Link Street, Birmingham B5 4BS (Between TK Maxx and Supercuts).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Claire Bryson .