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CALMHS - Community Advice, Links, & Mental Health Support Service

Gloucestershire County Council has appointed Rethink Mental Illness to run its Mental Health Support and Advice Service from 1 April 2024.  Click here to read the press release.

We're here to support people who are experiencing moderate to severe mental ill health throughout Gloucestershire.  Our CALMHS Community Mental Health Support service is funded by Gloucestershire County Council. 

The service can be tailored to help support you to build on your strengths and to make a positive change. You can achieve this through;

  • Personal support plans

  • Access to information & advice

  • Signposting/reference to other services

  • 1:1 support with a Bridge Builder

  • Peer support

  • Exploring opportunities to develop and learn new skills

  • By sharing your existing skills with others, joining in with existing activities or just accessing some space where you can feel safe and be with other people who have had similar experiences.

  • You will be given space to talk and be listened to and to build new friendships with people who have similar interests.

We also work with people experiencing Social Isolation, lack of motivation or difficulty coping with the stress and pressures of everyday life (this is not a complete list). The service is open to adults (18+) living in Gloucestershire and those making transition from young peoples to adult services. You must be registered with a Gloucestershire GP

To learn more, you can visit the other pages in the CALMHS Community Mental Health Support section of this website:

Videos

Meet some of the people who we've worked with, and hear from them how Independence Trust has helped.

Peer Support

Meet some of our Peer Support volunteers.

Co-Production

You'll hear this phrase used a lot, so what does it mean for us at Independence Trust? It means engaging in a meaningful way with individuals and groups within the service. We also realise that co-production isn't for everyone.

We have adopted (and adapted) the following key principles:

  • Taking an assets based approach (to people and communities), together we'll build a picture of the activities and groups of interest in your local area.
  • Building on people's capabilities, aspirations and ambitions. we believe that everyone has skills and talents that can be used and built upon whether at this point they are recognised or not.
  • Reciprocity and mutuality. We have respect for one another and acknowledge that together we have much to learn from one another.
  • Peer Support Network. We recognise that support for one another can be very beneficial and being in an environment were we receive mutual support can help us in our recovery.
  • Blending distinctions. There is not a 'them and us' we are in this together.
  • Facilitating rather than delivery; provision rather than services.

Examples of Co-Production in Action

At our Wellbeing Hub in Stroud, a number of clients expressed an interest in finding somewhere were they could occasionally get together and share a meal.

Through the grapevine, they heard that local charity Open House, were setting up a Community Kitchen on the High Street. After discussions, the clients decided to get involved. Over time, the cafe has evolved and is made up of people who need a place they feel at ease in. There are now about 15 clients involved who buy the food, do the prep, cook and eat the food together and then tidy up afterwards.

The Community Cafe has now become a more community focused space, giving people the opportunity to engage with others outside of the Wellbeing Hub.