Organisational Milestones and Landmarks

1986

• Mind in Bexley established, functioning primarily as a user support group.
• Registered as a Charity, March 1986.

1987

• The Heather Club established at Bexley hospital and run by Mind in Bexley Volunteers until the hospital closure.

1994

• Financial support from the Bexley Care Trust received in order to become a service provider.
• Befriending scheme established at point of discharge from Bexley Hospital

1996

• Mind in Bexley volunteers ran Centre Pieces Project at 283. This moved to, and still runs at, the Crayford Centre.

1997

• Mind in Bexley in partnership with Bexley Youth services established a Friday evening project that ran for 3 years and Princess Anne, who presented an award for excellence, visited the project.
• Saturday service was first established initially as a film show and drop-in.

1999

• A seven months listening project was run by 2 counsellors and 6 trainees, offering fixed 6 weekly sessions to service users.
• Current Befriending scheme was established.
• A twice weekly drop-in on the Larner estate was established which ran until it was forced to close.

2000

• First full year of Welfare Rights Service brings in £43,000 in additional Benefits for service users.
• The current Art Group established at Mind in Bexley.

2001

• Mind in Bexley Quality Assurance systems developed.
• Advocacy starts to visit Woodlands on the closure of Bexley Hospital

2002

• Mind in Bexley awarded CLS Quality Mark for general help with casework in Welfare Benefits.

2004

• Mind in Bexley awarded National Mind’s Quality Standards.
• Mind in Bexley produces a series of Mental Health Information Leaflets in partnership with Bexley Care Trust.
• The BBC films an armchair aerobics session at Mind in Bexley premises.
• Women’s Activity Morning was launched.

2005

• The organisation’s Director appointed chair of the mental Health Partnership Group and is elected Governor (Voluntary Sector) of Oxleas (Mental Health) Foundation Trust.
• Registered as a Limited Company (March).
• Welfare Rights Service brings in £351,119 in additional Benefits for service users (2004/05)
• Production of Mental Health Education Package for Charlton Athletics’ Kicking-On project

2006

• Welfare Rights Service brings in £770,325 in additional Benefits for service users. (2005/06)
• Partnership between Mind and Bexley Care Trust and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust to undertake an 18 month research study on self help CBT.
• The new look Day Service based on the tenets of the Recovery Model is launched.
• Mind in Bexley celebrates 20 years of service to the local community.

2007

• Welfare Rights Service brings in £1,082,019 in additional Benefits for service users. (2006/07)
• Health and Well Being Group established.
• Hospital Discharge group established.

2008

• Newly appointed Director takes up post (January).
• Organisation review - strategic plan 2008-11 produced.
• In partnership with the North Bexley and Clockotower GP consortium, secured tender to deliver guided self help CBT to patients in North Bexley and Clocktower who are suffering from mild to moderate depression
• Vietnamese and Chinese Wellbeing Social Club set up in partnership with Bexley Council for Race Equality
• Sonas group for vulnerable Irish residents set up in partnership with the Irish Community in Greenwich
• New website launched