Celebration of Kindred Art

WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW TRUSTEES!!!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:15:31 GMT

Could you be the Trustee of a thriving community-led charity?

Trusteeship Recruitment September 2025:

Kindred Minds Trusteeship Opportunity

Role: Kindred Minds is seeking to appoint 2 new Trustees within the next 6 months.

Background: Our organisation was first constituted in April 2012. The charity was subsequently incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission on 27/05/2015. The objects of the charity are:

To relieve the needs and to promote and preserve the good mental and physical health of those suffering from any form of mental ill health resident in the Merseyside area but not exclusively by:

A) The provision of help, support, and advice through peer support;

B) The promotion of social inclusion by providing access to creative health and wellbeing activities;

C) To provide a "safe place" where information, problems and experience can be exchanged and discussed; and

D) Promoting a better understanding of mental health and helping to reduce the stigma, oppressive attitudes and behaviours associated with it.

We summarise this as PASS = Peer Support, Activities, Safe space, and Stigma free.

Please read our latest annual report on the Charity Commission summarising our achievements in the last 12 months https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5056915/full-print

Information about the role:

Time commitments:

• Attendance at board meetings including the AGM, which are held every 6 weeks throughout the year and are usually 2 hours in length.

• In addition, attendance at an annual Strategic Planning day.

• Trustees can also volunteer e.g., at our fundraising Summer Fair and Christmas Party.

• Trusteeships are for 2 years and trustees can be re-elected for further terms.

Kindred Minds - CIO registered in England and Wales (1161849) Kindred Minds, The Activity Room, 1st Floor, Lee Valley Millennium Centre, Childwall Valley Road, Liverpool L25 2PR

Email kindredmindsliverpool@gmail.com Facebook Kindred Minds Merseyside.

Skills/experience: To support our charitable work going forward, we are seeking people ideally with skills/experience in the following areas:

 Human Resources (HR) – We are seeking a person with current or recent practical HR experience in the workplace. This person should have a working knowledge Contracts of Employment, relevant policies and procedures, Line management experience etc.

 Social Accounting/Monitoring and Evaluation – We are seeking a person with current knowledge of social accounting practices and effective monitoring and evaluation methods, ideally in health and wellbeing sectors.

Renumeration: These Trustee positions are voluntary but travel expenses (most affordable and claim limit), training (relevant to the role) and refreshments are accommodated.

Whats in it for me? This exciting opportunity will offer the chance for someone to:

• gain experience in Trusteeship....the "challenge and support" role

• learn about how a charity operates

• make a positive impact on the community

• improve professional development/CV

All enquiries contact Denise Bernard by emailing kindredmindsliverpool@gmail.com and in the subject bar write FAO Denise Bernard re Trusteeship roles

Deadline: open ended

Mustn't grumble!

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:26:54 GMT

Managing our physical health

A recurring issue for members of the Peer Support Group has been having to cope with a variety of physical health problems, and the effect this has on our ability to deal with our mental health issues.

Group members have reportede a variety of complaints, ranging from relatively minor colds and infections that have nevertheless drained them of energy to discovering a heart condition requiring immediate and ongoing cardiac treatment. Some people have shared how they live with long term health conditions that impair their quality of life and restrict mobility, such as recovering from a stroke, or managing diabetes. One member has found themselves living with long-covid, with a dramatic effect on energy levels and ability to carry out everyday tasks such as house work.

Having multiple conditions can mean having to deal with an array of services and support systems which are not always user friendly. The resulting effort and frustration in accessing the correct treatment and care can further deplete people's ability to maintain their mental health. The danger is that this results in a downward spiral, with low mood impacting people's motivation to manage ongoing physical issues.

The act of sharing these problems within the group seems to help lighten the load of living with illness. People's ongoing sagas of accessing care, arguments with experte over treatment pathways are given a listening ear and support and encouragement to keep going. And attendance at the group can be a motivation to get out of the house as people overcome mobility issues and low motivation to attend each week.

Peer.support may not hold all the answers for people dealing with multiple issue on a daily basis. But it can provide a focus for the week, a willing audience for our trials and tribulations, and a source of encouragement and support to keep soldiering on.

Singing the Blues

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:45:34 GMT

Singing the blues

One of the purposes of our Peer Support Group is to share ideas for coping when we are not feeling our best. These are many and can vary significantly between individuals. Some are wholesome, and to be recommended, like taking exercise, getting out and about and practicing self-care. Others are not so helpful, and perhaps to be avoided in the longer term. These have included comfort eating, shopping sprees and other ways of avoiding our feelings.

One thing that the whole group had in common, however, was the role of music as a soundtrack of our lives. Different people find music to be helpful in different circumstances. Some people find background music at work helps them to concentrate on tasks. Others listen to music while taking exercise at the gym as a way of staying motivated or keeping pace.

Nobody, however, said that they listened to music in order to cheer themselves up when they were low. During periods of sadness, whether through loss, relationship breakdown or simply getting out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning, it is sad tunes to which we turn.

On the other hand, we all have our go-to tunes that complement our happy days. When things are going well we look to be lifted further. It's as if music is there not to counteract the way we are feeling, but to accentuate it. It seems to connect us more directly with the way we feel, rather than softening the blow.

As a fun exercise each member of the group jotted down their happy tunes and sad songs on paper. We then made a playlist and played them back on shuffle, and tried to guess one another's favourites. Here they are:

Peer Support Happy Tunes (Click to view in Apple Music)

Papa's Got a Brand New Pig Bag - Pigbag

Still Into You - Paramore

Heer Comes The Sun - The Beatles

Umbrella (Feat.JAY Z) - Rihanna

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it) - Beyonce

TEXAS HOLD 'EM - Beyonce

Harvest Moon - Neil Young

She Loves You - The Beatles

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

Ghost - Ella Henderson

Get Happy (from Summer Stock) - Judy Garland

Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan

Life Is A Highway - Rascal Flatts

Peer Support Blue Tunes (Click to view in Apple Music)

Danny Boy - Alfie Boe

Wake Me When September Ends - Green Day

Dance With My Father (Luther Vandross

I'm Still Standing - Elton John

Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles

The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes

24 Hours From Tulsa - Gene Pitney

Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison

Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt

I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner

Swim Good - Dermot Kennedy

No Hard Feelings - The Avett Brothers

Lilac Wine - Elkie Brooks

As you can see we have varied taste. Whatever your mood today, enjoy!

SAYING GOODBYE – KEEPING IN TOUCH

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:07:50 GMT

Trigger warning – deals with bereavement and loss

This week our Peer Support Group returned to the recurring theme of grief and loss. These issues seem to present themselves in all of our lives, whether through the death someone important in our lives, or long-term separation from family and friends.

This time it was a question about " direct cremation " that set us off. This is the most simple kind of send-off possible, where our remains are disposed of without any kind of ceremony or attendance. They are therefore often the most inexpensive option when arranging the funeral.

Some members of the group thought that this would suit them, as it avoided putting people through the finality of watching the crematorium curtains closing, or the dark drama of the graveside. Free from the formalities and conventions, family and friends would be able to celebrate our life in their own way and have more money to spend on the party. Others, however, pointed out the importance to them of a formal ceremony as a way of expressing their sadness and grief with other people as part of the process of letting go.

It turned out that people had very different expectations for their own funeral, according to traditions of their families and the conventions of their various faiths. There followed a “fantasy funeral league” ranging from a simple cremation service and scattering of the ashes at a favourite beauty spot to a full-blown procession to the cemetery in a glass, horse-drawn hearse. However nobody in the room could have said how much this would cost.

Our attention then turned to remembering our loved ones after they have passed away. Group members were at different stages of loss and some were finding it difficult to think about anything else at all. They shared how they sometimes felt overwhelmed with grief, and sometimes guilty for the odd times they went out and enjoyed themselves. For others, although the pain of loss was still present for them, their memories were much more of a comfort, especially when shared with others.

Some of us felt that it was important to visit the grave or place of remembrance, to keep the flowers fresh, and perhaps to chat to the person and say a prayer or two while they were there. This was less important to others than looking through old photgraphs, or keepsakes that reminded them of when the person was still alive.

Everyone found talking about the person they had lost very helpful, and some shared that they also talk to the person as if they were still here. And everyone felt that their departed loved ones are actually still here anyway, on one level or another. We all agreed that we probably didn’t talk about death itself enough considering that we will all be confronted with it sooner or later.

For more information about bereavement and loss contact Liverpool Bereavement Service

Grief: it's not just about the people who passed away

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:54:46 GMT

Our Kindred Minds Peer Support Group got to talking about grief and loss the other day...

.... Like you do?

Except everyone in our group shared that for a number of different reasons it was difficult for them to share feeling of grief and loss in their everyday lives. This might be because it was too raw and they didn't want to keep getting upset. Others didn't want to give the impression that they weren't coping. Some worried that they'd be putting more burden on famliy members who were grieving too.

And yet everyone was able to recall losses they had been through either in the past or more recently. Some said they are still in the initial shock of a close bereavement. Some shared loss through divorce and family breakdown. Others through redundancy, or the impact of chronic illness on their sense of self. The causes of grief seemed complex and varied, even in the experience of our own group.

How can you make sense of it?

The impact of grief on our mental health and our ability to cope with the pressures of life is extremely varied and can differ greatly from person to person. In our group there was a common experience of shock and disbelief at the very beginning. Some of us found this overwhelming, and leaving us struggling to function. Others remembered the feeling of numbness and "running on autopilot" in order to get through the day. Some described an almost physical pain, or that they were carrying an immense weight everywhere they went. This can easily turn into a sense of loneliness and isolation, especially when the initial outpouring of sympathy has died away, and your friends gradually stop asking you how you are coping.

The Five Stages of Grief

The bereavement charity Cruse is an excellent source of information and advice for anyone struggling to make sense of bereavement, grief and loss. They use the model of Five Stages of Grief to help people understand how they are feeling, that it is not unusual to fee like this, and that eventually the feelings will be less intense. The Five Stages of Grief are:

denial
anger
bargaining
depression
acceptance

You can find out more about the Five Stages of Grief by visiting Cruse's web page on the subject here . Most of the experiences shared in the group could be fitted into these categories, but it was not true that they had progressed through the list in order. Most people said that they had pinged about from one experience to the other. They could be happy remembering good times with their absent friend or partner one day, and then be triggered by something unexpected - a pop song or a favourite jumber - and be wailing away as if the loss had happed yesterday.

Can you grieve for too long?

Everyone in the group who had experienced grief said that there was no time limit on it, and that even after several years they could find themselves in a low mood, sometimes crying and wishing that they could be with their beloved partner, friend, sibling, colleague or pet. But most of us had found ways to live with the loss and to lead otherwise fruitful, happy lives. Most of us found it helpful to be able to talk about the person we had lost, and could laugh about fun times together and even enjoy feeling a bit sad, if that makes sense.

What if I need some help?

We all agreed, though that it can be easy to begin feeling stuck in a dark tunnel with no end in sight, and feel terrified at these feelings of despair. And we all remembered how glad we were of any support on offer, even it was just a listening ear, or some help with practical arrangements following a death. One group member had found bereavement counselling helpful. You can find out more about local support here .

Kindred Minds Peer Support Group was set up for people who have struggled with their mental health to give and receive support from one another in a safe, confidential setting. For more information about the group contact Andy Kerr

Peer Support

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:55:40 GMT

Helping each other and helping ourselves

We are slowly learning that the worst thing to do when we are are struggling with our mental health is to keep it to ourselves. And we are gradually learning that there is no shame in reaching out to help from others. Sometimes support from a mental health professional can be the difference between long, dark months of isolation and finally finding our way through to a better place.

But however valuable professional help may be, many of us have experienced that the most powerful source of support has been from people who have been there tshemselves. Many of us have felt a deep sense of relief to hear from someone with a similar experience to our own. While everyone's experiences are unique, being able to connect with our peers can begin to help us overcome our sense of isolation, and begin to get ourselves back on track, whatever that may mean for us.

Kindred Minds has recently set up a group to help people who have struggled with their mental health to find each other, and to share thier experiences with one another in a safe, confidential environment. It felt that people were waiting for this opportunity to come along, because the group has been very well attended from the beginning. The group meets once a week and is open to anyone who is registered with Kindred Minds.

The group began by establishing some simple ways to show respect for one another's experience. We agreed not to interrupt people while they are talking. We agreed not to share anything that people told us about themselves in the group. If people don't want to join in a discussion or share personal experiences, that's okay. It was decided not to offer advice if people had not asked for it. And everyone was clear that they must be able to share their experiences and views without judgement.

We make sure that everyone has a turn to speak, although if you don't feel like contributing that day, it's okay to stay quiet. Listening to others is seen as a great contribution anyway. The things that people share can very greatly. Sometimes people have sharing experiences from the past that have continued to impact them as adults. Some people have been able to tell us about ongoing situations with their families, or their contact with services that continue to be stressful and difficult to manage. Some discussions are much more lighthearted though - maybe recomending TV binge-watching to fill in the dark winter nights, or exchanging favourite sayings or quotes that we have found to be an inspiration over the years.

Although the group has some people who come every week it is still open to for newcomers to join in our activities. And the feedback from new starters has been that they have felt welcome from the beginning. And although sometimes people talk about distressing issues that can be difficult to hear, people usually tell us that they feel better when they leave than when they arrived.

Finally, although the details of our discussions will stay confidential to the group, we will be sharing our insights and coping strategies through this blog, so that the benefits of our peer support activities can be felt more widely.

So remember, while you might be heroically facing down your demons and dragons, it's even better to have people at your back.

Kindred Minds Camera Club

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:09:54 GMT

New Photography Group starting Thursday 24th February

Come and join our new photography group! Over the next six months, join our monthly sessions exploring photography with artist Emma Case.

Photography is a wonderful way to be mindful, to slow down and see the beauty that surrounds us. It’s also a fantastic tool to express how we feel, to tell stories and to connect to others.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience! We have cameras too if you haven’t got your own!

We look forward to seeing you and can’t wait to have some fun and start taking photos together!

Each group will take place 2-4pm on the following dates -

Thursday 24th February

Thursday 24th March

Thursday 28th April

Thursday 26th May

Thursday 23rd June

Thursday 28th July

LCC Community Health Fund

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:02:14 GMT

Exciting news!

Kindred Minds has recently been awarded £16,000 of funding from the Liverpool Community Mental Health fund, to help enhance our offer of arts classes to improve mental wellbeing. The new programme of arts courses will be delivered throughout 2022, at both our Belle Vale headquarters and at sites in the city centre.

We are really excited about the opportunities this gives us to reach more people across the city and improve their wellbeing through art. Art can promote mindfulness, boost self esteem through learning a new skill and also bring people together to make friends. Watch this space for more news about our upcoming courses.

Day trip to Llangollen

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:14:33 GMT

Friday 24th September - Our first Kindred Explorers excursion

The first trip of 2021 with the Kindred Explorers took place on Friday 24th September. We basked in the glorious late summer weather in Llangollen! In the morning, we nosied around the charity shops and took a stroll down the riverbank. A few of us went on a horse drawn canal boat trip too. Later in the afternoon, we re-grouped and had a tour of the wonderful Plas Newydd, home of the Ladies of Llangollen. We were particularly inspired by their story!

We had some great feedback too

'Just by being out with other people helped me with my anxiety and emotional feelings'

' Mood lifted by being with friends - chatting, having a laugh. Given my confidence to mix more outside with small groups.'

We hope this is the first of many trips over the next 12 months. A trip to a local Christmas market is currently being planned - watch this space for more info. Please register with us as a service user to hear about upcoming trips.

Volunteer buddy

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 12:59:14 GMT

Kindred Minds is looking for buddy volunteers!

The process of applying for benefits and going for face to face interviews can be hugely off putting for those who lack confidence and/or have difficulty in explaining their reasons to perceived experienced, officials.
Kindred Minds is looking for volunteers who can act as a 'Buddy' to some of our service users in this position, to accompany them to appointments.

Kindred Minds are offering this worthwhile opportunity for those who have good listening skills and those looking to gain experience in the field of social, mental health and support work. It is also an opportunity for peers who have been in a similar position and are now able to help through their prior experience.

They will be required to:
*Accompany their ‘Buddies’ to DWP appointments
*Share general information about services and activities offered by Kindred Minds
*Maintain periodic contact with their ‘buddy at planned intervals as agreed
* The level of ‘buddy’ support required may be different in each case.

Please apply via email to Kindredmindsliverpool@gmail.com Tell us what interests you in the role. What you hope to gain from it and what you think you can offer our clients in ways of empathy and support. We will ask you to come in for an informal interview if selected and ask you to supply 2 x character references.

The volunteer role description can be downloaded below.

New pottery course

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:39:07 GMT

New pottery course starting soon

We have a new pottery tutor, Alex, who will be starting a pottery course with us on Wednesday mornings. It will be a fun, relaxed course where you can paint creations, make simple objects or progress to making pots. Therapeutic messy play for adults! Places are limited so please email enquiries@kindredmindsmerseyside.org to register your interest.

The course will be held at Lee Valley Millennium Centre, Childwall Valley Road, Liverpool, L25 2PR.