Launch of MAMC Wellbeing Café

Mayor Ray Dutton, Dr Chris Duffy and guests at the launch of the Multicultural Arts and Media Centre Wellbeing Cafe

Mayor Ray Dutton and Dr Chris Duffy, chairman for NHS HMR CCG, opened the Multicultural Arts and Media Centre (MAMC) Wellbeing Cafe on Wednesday (19 October 2016).

Mohammed Sarwar, CEO of MAMC, said: “The MAMC Wellbeing Café is a new initiative based on evaluation evidence from our previous programmes engaging people living with dementia, their carers, and people of all ages living with mental health challenges. We have identified a need to move away from traditional mental health day services to a wellbeing brokerage model that is available to whole communities, encourages peer support and progression into training and volunteering.

“MAMC Wellbeing Café will provide an excellent community resource and weekly interactive arts intervention projects, reminiscence, music therapy, poetry, filming, intergenerational activities and information and guidance from health and social care services to boost self-esteem and encourage families to take more responsibility for their care that will contribute to positive social and health change, particularly for the BAME communities.

“We have seen that individuals who have a mental illness cannot find work, the work placements and job club at MAMC can provide support and assistance to help them find work.

“MAMC has also launched its unique Memory Box, Photo Album, Video and Urdu translation of the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends awareness session for the Asian Community.

“This resource will help the Asian Community to do reminiscence, engage in arts and cultural activities and help to reduce isolation.

“We believe that, by working in partnership, the café and resources will be used to reach out to communities who have very little understanding of mental health, and they can be signposted to more personalised support if they need it, but importantly to engage in arts, heritage and share cultural experiences to reduce isolation and engage with the wider community.

“A screening of Engaging Faith with Mental Health was shown that had been supported by Near Neighbours

“We had an excellent feedback from the users and organisations for the project and several emails to join in the project.

“We are currently applying for funding for a Project worker for the Café and skilled Sessional Workers, with support from regular involvement of professionals from external and internal agencies.

MAMC would like to thank all in attendance for their feedback and continuing support.”