The Friends of Brecon and District Mind was established as the Friends of its predecessor, Brecon and District Contact Association, in 2010 by myself and Sue Hiley Harris. Sue did much of the groundwork. The idea emerged out of my experience with Friend groups, through working, for twenty years, in local museums and art galleries. This gave me the idea, as chair of BDCA’s board, to start a Friends support group. When BDCA, which had existed for over twenty years, evolved, through affiliation, into Brecon and District Mind, the Friends changed their name.
The aim of the Friends is to help raise awareness of mental health issues in the area and to provide a forum for the discussion of related issues through talks, excursions and social activities. In addition, the Friends raise funds for complementary activities and equipment to support the service. A welcome by-product of its core activities is that more members of the community directly or indirectly affected by mental health issues have the opportunity to contact people with some understanding of the issues.
Recent activities have included a one-day skills workshop led by clinical psychologist Professor Neil Frude entitled How to be Happy, a talk by Tracey Brooks, PAT for Well-being, about the charity Pets as Therapy, and another by artist Tessa Waite, who has worked supportively through residencies in several mental health contexts. Other subjects have included bereavement, anorexia, the ideas of Carl Gustav Jung, evocative photographs of the former Mid Wales Hospital and preparations for making a major film exploring powerful creative forces and altered states of consciousness. We have been entertained by a four-piece a capella singing group, and have arranged ceilidhs. The Friends have also organised art fairs and hosted theatrical productions. Each year, at the end of July, they organise the Tea-on-Top walk up Pen-y-Crug near Brecon with tea and cake and musical entertainment provided on the summit.
Brecon and District Mind itself is a charity and company limited by guarantee which supports people affected by mental ill buy provigil health in the Brecon, Crickhowell, Talgarth and Hay area. The service, provided by staff and assisted by volunteers, is funded primarily by Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys Social Services. Additional funding, however, for specific projects is raised through grant applications, donations and activities organised by the Friends. BDMind is based at Tŷ Croeso, St David’s House, 48 Free Street, Brecon (01874 611529, www.breconmind.org.uk). The Friends may be contacted on: friends@breconmind.org.uk.
Friends of Brecon and District Mind