Sparky’s Café Busy With Event To Mark World Mental Health Day

Published on: 10 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 10 Oct, 2016

World Mental Health Day was marked at Sparky’s Café at Guildford’s Farnham Road Hospital on Monday (October 10), with a number of talks focusing on advice and support within the sector.

Pictured at Sparky's Café, from left: volunteers Beth and Kelly, manager Maris Ruiz, staff member Ellie and volunteer Emily.

Pictured at Sparky’s Café, from left: volunteers Beth and Kelly, manager Maria Ruiz, staff member Ellie and volunteer Emily.

It was also a chance for people to see the work of the café and its staff and volunteers, while sampling the food on offer.

The event was hosted by the Richmond Fellowship, a charity that helps people with mental health problems live independently, find work and make the most of life.

Richmond Fellowship operates Sparky’s Café at the specialist mental health hospital in Farnham Road for the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust. The café manager is Maria Ruiz and it is staffed by young people with mental health problems. While they volunteer at the café they learn catering, customer service, administration and food hygiene skills.

The café is next to the reception area at the hospital and is not only popular with staff, patients and clients, is open to the public too. Maria said that the busier the café becomes the more volunteers can be taken on and helped with their development. That is why the public are more than welcome to drop in for refreshments, with the opportunity to take part in special events that take place there regularly.

On Wednesday, October 19, from 10am to 11am, there will be a yoga workshop led by Michelle Chand. Her aim is to teach assessible yoga to people of all abilities and to work with challenges such as injury and illness, both physical and emotional.

On Saturday, October 29, from 10am to 11am there will be an art workshop led by Sophie Denny. It is open to anyone who finds it difficult to express themselves in words and is ideal to help boost confidence, self-esteem and concentration.

There will be no cost to attend either of these events, just make a donation if you wish. To book, call Maria on 07453 458412, or email at maria.ruiz@richmondfellowship.org.uk

The networking and support event at Sparky's Café on Monday, October 10.

The mental health networking and support event was held at Sparky’s Café on Monday, October 10.

Speakers at the event on Monday included Annalise Baker from Oakleaf, Jane De La Rosa of Catalyst, Guildford Action’s chief executive Joanne Tester, Sarah Swann and Sharon Dean from Surrey and Borders Partnership, volunteer recovery support worker Justin Pinder from the Isle of Wight and Hannah Pidsley from ThinkAction.

Planning for the event was by law graduate Chloe Williams. She is workjing for two years for Surrey County Council on a graduate scheme as a new models of delivery officer.

She said: “Part of my role is to work with an organisation to run a project for them. I am interested in mental health and the Richmond Fellowship was suggested.

“It wanted to organise an event certered around Sparky’s Café, so we have brought together a number of related service providers and users. I am really pleased how sucessful it has been.”