HUBB is a mutual support group for people living in Havering, Barking and Dagenham who have had/have a mental illness and, if they request, their carers and other supporters.
Our meetings take place every 1st Thursday of the month from 5.00-7.00pm and usually consist of socialising, a guest speaker session, information exchange, a raffle, refreshments and tidying up! Our guest speaker topics have included creative, therapeutic and educational opportunities as well as developments in finance and benefits, housing, local mental health service provision and national policies.
As a support group, our purpose is to provide:
- A safe place for people to share experiences without censorship
- Help to understand changes in local and national services, and how to cope with them
- Referral to professional advocacy where appropriate
- Empowerment and encouragement for recovery and independent living
- Response to official consultations and feeding back real-life experiences to decision makers
- Information about local events and community resources
- Help in tackling the stigma of mental illness and in challenging social isolation of sufferers
- Support following discharge from mental health services
- An opportunity to improve their confidence, contribute to the newsletter and the running of meetings
- Encouragement to undertake voluntary work, training or roles in other groups, even to progress employment
- A positive response to the Government’s promotion of self-help and well-being.
Find out more at www.hubb.org.uk