Advocacy Information & Advice—Sport
InfoCam (www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/cambscc/infocam/cid.nsf/index.htm) is Cambridgeshire Libraries directory of community organisations and facilities. It includes numerous clubs, societies and groups which can be searched for by town or subject
In Cambridgeshire, the Working Together for Recovery group has a website to give help and advice for those seeking to make recovery from mental health problems an achievable goal. It has sections covering many areas of life such as work, housing advice, physical and mental wellbeing, plus many others. The group itself meets once a quarter at the Anglia Ruskin University for a lunch and to hear a speaker or two discussing issues and news relating to mental health. The lunch is free and open to all who have involvement in this sector be they service users or health care professionals. More information can be found on their website at www.workingtogetherforrecovery.co.uk
Arts and Minds
Richard Taylor, Chair
Tel: 01799 541522
Email: Richard.taylor@artsandminds.org.uk
Kay Goodridge, Development Associate
Tel: 07974 786802
Email: kay.goodridge@artsandminds.org.uk
Arts and Minds is a local charity which believes that access to and participation in all forms of creative and expressive arts is good for people’s health and well-being. The charity runs artist-led projects throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for small groups of participants who are vulnerable or at risk, many with a mental illness or learning disability. Projects are often offered in partnership with other local voluntary organizations. Art forms include creative writing and storytelling, painting, pottery, textiles and photography.
Camquit- NHS Stop Smoking Service
The Mill House
Brookfields Hospital
351 Mill Road
Cambridge
CB21 3DF
Tel: 01223 723022
Email: Karen.cowan@cambsmh.nhs.uk
Website: www.camquit.nhs.uk
Camquit offer friendly advice and counselling about quitting smoking. There are two parts to the service. Firstly, they offer appointments with ongoing one-to-one support. They also run quit groups where smokers all agree to quit smoking on the same day. The group meets once a week for a total of six weeks. Contact Camquit on the above number to make an appointment if you are thinking about quitting smoking or if you would just like some advice on the phone.
Cambridge YMCA
Queen Anne House
Gonville Place
Cambridge
CB1 1ND
Tel: 01223 356998
Email: paul.huzzey@theymca.org,uk
Website: www.theymca.org.uk
They have a befriending scheme for people with special needs or disabilities, including mental health problems. Volunteer ‘befrienders’ work one-to-one in a gym setting. The sessions are free to volunteers. The partner can attend the sessions at a reduced rate if on benefits or low income. To arrange to go to the gym contact Paul Huzzey on 01223 273810.
City Leisurecard/ THEcard
For information or an application form please contact:
Cambridge Parkside Pools
The City Leisurecard
Gonville Place
Cambridge
CB1 1LY
Tel: 01223 446104
The City Leisurecard (18+ years) and THEcard (3-17 years) are discount cards available to Cambridge City residents, which entitle the holder to money off many leisure facilities and activities including the City Sport programme.
Leisurecard B and THEcard B are available to Cambridge City residents (if you pay your council tax to Cambridge City Council).
Leisurecard Student and THEcard Student are available to students (aged 16+) that are Cambridge City residents.
Leisurecard A and THEcard A are available if you are a resident in Cambridge City and you are in receipt of a means tested benefit. These include Family Tax Credits, Housing Benefits, Council Tax Benefits, Disability Living Allowance, Pensions Tax Credit and Job Seekers Allowance.
To apply for a Leisurecard/ THEcard you will need to complete an application form, which can be obtained from any of the places listed below, and deliver it in person to Cambridge Parkside Pools, The Abbey Pool, or Cherry Hinton Village Centre or by post to the address detailed above.
Escape Artists
Tel: 0207 655 0909
Email: info@escapeartists.co.uk
Website: www.escapeartists.co.uk
Escape Artists offers a wide range of accredited and non-accredited arts based workshops and productions tailored to suit the needs of its client groups. Primarily drama focused, they also work with other art forms such as music, video, creative writing, photography and dance depending on requirements.
Fitness 4 Health Scheme in South Cambs
South Cambs District Council
Tel: 01954 212042
Email: lynnepotter@btconnect.com
Contact the Health & Exercise Development Co-ordinator
To join the fitness for health scheme, you must be referred by a health professional. You can then make an appointment for a Fitness 4 Health assessment. There are a number of centres that offer the scheme in South Cambs. You will need to make an appointment for a personal assessment. Following a personal assessment you will be given a tailor made fitness programme. You will have two supervised classes per week for 12 weeks followed by a final assessment to see how well you have achieved your goals. Our aim is to help you to choose regular activities to continue with a healthy active lifestyle. All centres have an extensive range of activities.
Inspire – wellbeing through arts
2a Cambridge Road
Milton
Cambridge
CB24 6AW
Tel: 01223 441106
Email: admin@inspire.org.uk
Website: www.inspire.org.uk
Inspire is a Cambridge-based charity which designs and runs high quality arts projects for people with disabilities, mental health problems and/or long-term health problems. The work can help people to learn skills, overcome difficulties, express themselves, integrate into the community, improve their quality of life and gain recognition for their abilities and talents.
Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre
Queen Anne Terrace
Gonville Place
Cambridge
Tel: 01223 462226
Email: info@kelseykerridge.co.uk
Website: www.kelseykerridge.co.uk
Some concessions are available for those with a disability or are on other benefits. Please contact Kelsey Kerridge for more information.
Lifecraft Arts Programme
Contact the Lifecraft office (01223 566957) between 12 noon and 5pm on weekdays
Lifecraft runs a number of weekly arts groups for its members in Cambridge, including a singing group, a creative writing group, an arts and crafts group and a music group. Lifecraft members have produced a poetry anthology and music CDs and have organized art exhibitions of members’ work. The Lifecraft Singers and the Lifecraft Poets have performed successfully in many local venues over the years. All levels of ability are catered for and members who had never written poetry or sung before have found themselves being published or performing in public, much to their delight.
- Tuesday 2-4pm Music Group
- Wednesday 12 – 1.30pm Lifecraft Singers
- Wednesday 2.30-4pm Poetry/Creative writing
- Friday 1-3pm Arts and crafts group
Michaelhouse Chorale
Trinity Street
Cambridge
CB21SU
Tel: 01223 309167
Email: sue@michaelhouse.org.uk
Website: www.michaelhouse.org.uk
The Michaelhouse office is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Michaelhouse is a charity,and one of its aims is to support mental health agencies and projects. In collaboration with Arts and Minds the Michaelhouse Chorale was set up in November 2007,and is now flourishing. It is a drop-in singing group,designed for those with mental health issues,and carers,and anyone else who just wants to have fun singing in a beautiful space!No experience of musical talent required. The group meets between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Friday afternoons. Michaelhouse also has a hall and meeting rooms and is keen for these to be used by mental health organisations at rates which may be subsidised.
Millennium Arts Project (MAP)
Tel: 01223 881267
Run by Friends of Fulbourn Hospital and the Community, MAP places Artists-in-Residence on the hospital wards, in day centres and related community settings. This is to give pleasure and provide activity and intellectual stimulation on an informal basis, for anybody of any age who has a mental health problem, together with carers. It covers the arts generally, such as pottery, textiles, art, mosaics, dance, music, storytelling and poetry.
South Cambs Sports Development Team
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Cambourne Business Park
Cambourne
CB23 6EA
Tel: 01954 713362
Email: jane.lampshire@southcambs.gov.uk
The team provides a variety of different sports and exercise sessions specifically for users of mental health services. A professional referral is required.
Sports Development Office
Sports Development Team
Active Communities
Hobson House
St. Andrews Street
Cambridge
CB2 3AS
Tel: 01223 457543 or 457538
The Cambridge City Council Sports Development Service provides a program of activity for community mental health service users called the Invigorate Project. There are a wide-ranging number of activities on offer including swimming, yoga, gym sessions, football and badminton. Emphasis during the sessions is to be physically active, and to have fun in a social setting. There is a buddy system in place for those who feel they may need a little extra support. Service users will be asked to complete a short questionnaire so that they can be issued with a membership card.
There is also a mental health focus group which has a great responsibility in shaping and developing the work that the service offers, with the aim of encouraging more service users to participate in physical activity opportunities. Membership of the group is voluntary and open to any service user.
Please telephone the above number for more information on the focus group or any of the activities that the City Council has to offer
Start-Up Exercise Referral Scheme
The Abbey Pool
Whitehill Road
Cambridge
CB5 8NT
Tel: 01223 415151
Website: www.cambridge.gov.uk/start-up
Start-up involves health professionals who are registered with the scheme, referring patients who would gain health benefits from leading a more active lifestyle. Each patient is referred to an exercise professional for personalized advice and an exercise program. The program runs for a period of 12 weeks, during which the patient is monitored and encouraged towards a more active lifestyle. If you are interested please speak to your health professional, whether this be your GP, nurse, occupational therapist, dietician or physiotherapist. For more information regarding the scheme, please contact the Start-up Team.
Street Voices
Telephone: Kay: 07773 109538/Janet 07921 872363
Email: kay@naturalvoice.net
Website: www.streetvoices.org.uk
Street Voices is a music group for homeless/ex-homeless people in Cambridge. They are supported by the ECHG missing links project and organised by voice teacher/community musician Kay Barrett. The group meets most Friday mornings at Akeman Street Community Centre and also plays gigs on a regular basis.They have a lively, mainly acoustic sound. No experience needed, just a love of music.If you would like to find out more, please contact Kay or Janet by email or phone.
Links
There are free websites that have been recommended by experts in the field as effective and developed by academics at several universities in the UK and Australia:
MoodGym
http//moodgym.anu.edu.au
Living life to the full
www.livinglifetothefull.com
Feel Better
www.kpchr.org/feelbetter
