Worthing Mental Health Awareness Week is situatated in the heart of Worthing at Offington Park Methodist Church and open to anyone regardless of religion. The church provides a safe environment for anyone to attend free of charge and collect information from over 50 local organisations offering services to Mental Health and Wellbeing. The service providers include public , private and voluntary organisations offering a full programme of workshops , seminars , talks as well as quiet times for reflection. The week concludes with a Charity Concert, all the participants and exhibitors give up their time freely to raise awareness and to break down stigma associated with Mental Health.

What we'll deliver:

• Increase awareness of services for people suffering with mental illness and their Carers.
• Creating a safe space for people to share their feelings and receive good quality information
• Create new volunteers to raise Mental Health Awareness at work and within the wider community.

Why it's a great idea:

Over the last 5 years the event has gone from strength to strength with more and more organisations taking part each year, with a small amount of funding this could enable us to attract high profile key note speakers or offer different seminars and to offer refreshments during the week. None of the organisers take a salary and the venue is donated by the Minister of the church to enable any money raised to provide a better experience to those attending and raise Mental Health Awareness across the town.

Steps to get it done:

• Creating new Dementia Friends
• New volunteers to support Mental Health Awareness
• Training places for Safe Talk Suicide Awareness

Last year we received a small grant from West Sussex to assist with promotion which are very grateful. The website hosting was donated for the first 5 years which has now expired and the organisers would like to find a new website host and update our online activity.