We were delighted to be hosted by Oru Space with delicious drinks and snacks. After an introduction around the table to get to know celebrations and updates from familiar and new faces, we got stuck into the topic of caring for our mental health.

Fiona from Sutton Mental Health Foundation and Zoe from South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust talked about their new project in collaboration with Oru Space’s roof garden, growing plants to use for natural dyeing of thread for a mindful stitching project. They discussed peer support and the differences between Sutton Mental Health Foundation and Sutton Uplift services and their links in with the community including many other volunteer involving organisations.

Hazel from QEF shared her experience of promoting mental wellbeing practises at work. We shared some favourite techniques and tips around the table including for the Children’s Centres, making a gratitude jar for someone else e.g. children for a parent. Several establishments were recommended such as Action for Happiness, Museum of Happiness, doing a Mental Health First Aid course, Random Acts of Kindness, journalling, and gratitude practises. We all sent a text message to someone we hadn’t reached out to thank in a while.

Then Lilly shared about Oru Space and we had a tour including the roof top garden in the sunshine, hearing about the future spa and seeing the future dye bed for Sutton Mental Health Foundation.

Some of us went on for lunch at Trinco Restaurant and to talk more about how we can support and help one another and the remaining few took part in the free community meditation run at Oru Space to take a dose of zen back to the office.

The next Forum is a social on Thursday 23^rd January at Sudtone and Shinner with Sutton Soup afterwards. More details here.

Here's what happened, thanks to all those who joined us it was lovely to have you all with us and see the network expand!