Lamp to provide mental health support at Belgrave Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Association Warm Space sessions

Mental health volunteers to be at two sessions in January and February 2023, aimed at anyone who cannot afford to stay warm in their homes this winter

Lamp, the Leicester-based mental health advocacy charity, will be at two of the Belgrave Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Association (BNCHA) Warm Space sessions to provide mental health advice and support.

As part of the Warm Welcome campaign, the BNCHA is inviting anyone who cannot afford to stay warm in their homes to come along to its offices at 131 Loughborough Road, Leicester, every Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon from 5 January 2023. Anyone can book a place by calling BNCHA on 0116 502 0888 and will be welcomed with hot drinks and various workshops.

Lamp mental health volunteers will be at the office on Thursday 12 January between 12-4pm and Thursday 23 February between 12-4pm with informal chats and workshops.

The workshop will look at mental health; its relationship to physical health; signs and symptoms of poor mental health including stress awareness; and breathing and relaxation exercises. Lamp advocacy staff will also share information about where to find local support groups and the services available from the charity.

More information on the Warm Spaces sessions can be found at https://belgravecoop.org.uk/warm-spaces/. BNCHA will also hold other sessions throughout the year with partner organisations including a ‘cost of living’ workshop.

Jaimini Bharakhada, Chair of BNCHA said:

“We hope that our warm space will be a welcoming one where people can find the strength and resilience to overcome their challenges. We’re inviting anyone to come and use our space, and take away something positive from the various workshops we have on offer. We are delighted that Lamp is supporting us in delivering information and access to mental health issues, especially during the cost of living crisis we’re all dealing with.”

Richard Kotulecki, Lamp’s CEO added:

“We are really pleased to be working with the BNCHA to support local people at these vital sessions. We understand how the cost of living crisis is affecting people’s mental and physical health, and we’re delighted to see that the BNCHA is offering Warm Space sessions to those most in need. We hope that our workshops at the sessions can help the visitors to recognise and take action to address any mental health issues.”