Chad's chosen charity Central Notts MIND provides weekly social events to help people through this stage, which can be a stressful and lonely period of the recovery process particularly at weekends when other services are often unavailable.

Central Notts MIND's Sunday Lunch Club is held every week in response to widespread demand for help when normal support arrangements are not available.

The club is held at Concord House on St John Street, Mansfield, from 11am-2pm, and offers a meal as well as a relaxing environment for people with mental health difficulties –– especially those who have recently been discharged from hospital –– to socialise and gain support.

Funding for the lunch club is part of an agreement with Nottinghamshire County Council available to people in Mansfield and Ashfield.
Central Notts MIND also runs a Wednesday Social Club at its Mansfield centre to encourage people to get out the house for a few hours and mix with others while enjoying a wide range of activities including quizzes, bingo, curry nights and trips out for meals.

One-to-one support is also available during the sessions for those who are struggling to cope with their ongoing mental health needs or are merely looking for someone to chat to.

Central Notts MIND general manager Girish Ravat says joining up to such social clubs is the second stage of recovery and can hugely improve the quality of life for many people with mental health difficulties.

"After making the first step to leave their comfort zones and come into our centres we aim to encourage people to continue integrating into society and not slip back to their old ways," says Girish.

"There are a lot more people and activities at the social events than the drop-in sessions to help people make friends, gain support and build up their confidence.

"People can join in with as much or little as they like depending on how comfortable they feel and even begin to enjoy trips out."

• Anybody wanting more information about the social events or who would like to organise a charity event or make a donation to Central Notts MIND should contact Girish Ravat on Mansfield 658044.


• Central Notts MIND is looking for trustees to sit on its Mansfield board of directors. The role would involve attending a monthly meeting and helping to make strategic decisions. Preferably, trustees would have experience of voluntary work or running a business. Anybody interested in becoming a trustee should contact Girish Ravat on Mansfield 658044.