On 6 October, the Barnet Wellbeing Service came together for Hub Connections, our World Mental Health Day event. Free to attend, it sold out, with more than 100 people registered. This year’s theme was “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”. The room filled with live music, movement, relaxation and conversation, and CBS News came along to see it for themselves.
Their feature has now been shared with audiences across the United States, and we’re proud of how it captured the warmth of the day.
Opened by the Mayor of Barnet
The event was opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Zahra Beg, who spoke about why sharing experiences matters:
“It’s often through sharing experiences that barriers are broken down, stigma is challenged and others are encouraged.” She also thanked everyone who spoke on the day: “Those showing their experiences today, thank you for your courage.”
Councillor Alison Moore echoed the theme of togetherness:
“Across our borough and our community, it’s only by coming together, holding those hands and mending those divides that we will keep everybody, all of our community, well, thriving and productive because it takes all of us to make life beautiful and shine.”
We were also joined by Dr Janet Djomba, Director of Public Health and Seher Kayikci, Senior Public Health Strategist, from Barnet Council. Thank you to all of them for supporting the day.
Hearing from people with lived experience
CBS met Peter, one of the people who came along to share his lived experience. He found support here in Barnet and now volunteers to help others, with the hope of creating more safe spaces where everyone feels they belong.
Stories like Peter’s are why events like this matter. Feeling heard, and finding people who understand, can be the first step towards feeling less alone.
It’s all about the people
Speaking to CBS, Tola Kolawole, Head of the Barnet Wellbeing Service, said it simply: “it’s all about the people.” That idea is at the heart of the service. Instead of asking “What’s the matter with you?”, we ask “What matters to you?”
One service, many partners
Hub Connections is a quarterly event, delivered through the Barnet Wellbeing Service partnership. Each one explores a different theme, bringing together the Service’s network of partners and connecting Barnet residents with wellbeing support from across the borough.
The partnership brings together:
- CB Plus, which leads the service and runs Barnet Friends, a free telephone befriending service, and Young People Thrive, support for young people aged 17.5 to 25
- Meridian Wellbeing, which runs the Barnet Wellbeing Hub, the main way into the service, offering Emotional Health Checks and connections to local support
- Mind in Enfield and Barnet, which runs the Recovery College, with courses and workshops that help people understand and manage their wellbeing
- New Citizens Gateway, which provides culturally informed talking therapy for refugees and people seeking asylum, in multiple languages
Together, we offer early, community-based support under one service, without long waits or complicated systems.
Find support
The Barnet Wellbeing Service is for adults who live, work or study in Barnet. You don’t need to have the perfect words or know exactly what you need. You can refer yourself, or a friend, family member or professional can refer you.
- Call: 03333 449 088
- Email: info@barnetwellbeing.org.uk
- Visit: www.barnetwellbeing.org.uk/wellbeing-hub
Thank you to everyone who came along, shared their story or simply listened.
