Mental Health Awareness

After some months of researching and working together Harriet and Martin drew the benefice’s attention to  mental health in a service on 29th September at North Aston Church.

The communion service which was curated by Harriet was adapted to include some very poignant biblical moments - especially the psalms. This  reflected the fact  that the problem of mental health was well known to our forbears in biblical times.

In the talk, descriptions of the research we’re given including visits to Littlemore where the Diocesan Head for Mental Health warmly received our enquiries, and Littlemore church - again very welcoming - which has been refurbished to make a space where people can both meet and also experience a safe place within an exquisitely adapted room.

Martin, Ruth and Ginny gave an account of the work and ambience of the Blackthorn GP Surgery, Trust Garden and Café where they had all worked together 30 years ago. Mark was the gardener there but could not be at the service as he was singing at Woodstock Church. This brought us to Bridewell and Root and Branch Gardens were flagged up as gem like therapeutic centres for those with the need to be sheltered in their work. The beauty of those places is healing in itself and deserves a space altogether on its own!

A major link has been revived with Dr Radcliffe's School through their special education needs coordinator Jane Rawson and we look forward to working in the school with some of the children. Covid had caused an unwanted gap in that contact. Harriet also highlighted the charity (B-yourself) set up by Dr Jean Coles, member of Steeple Aston church, who works as a GP in Brackley, and the work they do, wondering if in partnership with the Dr Radcliffe's Trust, and school this is something we could aspire to.