Town Centre Community Lunch

I know my diary entries here have been light. Apologies. If you’ve come here from my Lightwater blog, glad to see you. If not, you can pop over to read my post there.

The Town Centre Community Lunch is organised by the Reverend David Hamblin of High Cross Church, with the aim of connecting Surrey Heath’s town centre business and retail sectors, Council, and voluntary organisations, in a convivial atmosphere, and over a light lunch. I attended as Deputy Mayor, and thanked David for being a facilitator. Simple concept, yet something that’s so useful and valuable.

Among those in the audience were the managers of the Mall and the Atrium, a representative from the Camberley Society, the Chamber of Commerce, Surrey Heath Voluntary Services, Police, mental health organisations, and many more than I didn’t get chance to connect with. Our MP, Michael Gove, was also in the audience.

I met, and was hugely impressed by, two charming ladies connected with the Camberley-based Rethink Buzz Group, whose volunteers produce and maintain a comprehensive on-line guide to local mental health services. I learned from them both just how important this service is. In addition to the online resource guide they produce a Swift Guide, a simple fold-out leaflet, which lists the places where anyone with mental health issues can go to get help. Simple, effective, and vital when decision-making is clouded by mental health problems. They told me that even doctors welcome their Swift Guide as it collects all the contacts in one place.

I asked them what help they needed. They need volunteers to help to update the Swift Guide, and to help produce a regular newsletter. So, if you’ve available time, computer skills, or newsletter skills, and patience, then they’ll love to hear from you at: buzzsurreyheath@waitrose.com. Hope I’ve got that right.