Local politicians, Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich & West Norwood and Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall, joined the Mayor of Lambeth Councillor Annie Gallop to mark the opening of Lambeth & Southwark Mind’s new offices and counselling spaces on Thursday 2 December.
The new offices, located in the heart of Brixton at Piano House on Brighton Terrace, were officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the two MPs.
Lambeth and Southwark Mind supported 1,821 people within the community in 2020-2021, providing general psychotherapy, psychosis therapy and peer support programmes. Both boroughs are highly diverse with significant BAME communities and twice as many people of black heritage likely to have a mental illness compared with white British counterparts.
Alastair Smith-Agbaje, CEO described the move as “strategic… an office space that is practical, fit for the purpose and in an excellent location, offering increased facilities for counselling, which is so important during these difficult times with a huge demand on our services,” he said.
Helen Hayes MP, commenting on her work with the charity in 2021, said she was
“Very impressed… In April 2021, I submitted to parliament on behalf of the charity, their consultation on the Mental Health Act Reform White paper. I look forward to continuing with this work in the New Year.”
Tom McCabe, the charity’s Chair of Trustees thanked supporters, staff, trustees, volunteers, National Mind, corporate funders, and an array of community members who attended the opening. “Sustained funding is key to keep our services growing and meeting the needs of our residents within both boroughs,” he said. An award was presented to Ropes & Gray LLP solicitors for their generous contribution of human resources support and donations.
The evening opened with a lively icebreaker rendition of the 1970s’ Sister Sledge hit ‘We are Family’ led by Mark De-Lisser, vocal coach, choral director arranger and former Lambeth resident. Mark commented: “Music and singing is so important for improving mental health.”
The new office address is: Unit 4, Piano House, 9 Brighton Terrace, SW9 8DJ.
More information at https://www.lambethandsouthwarkmind.org.uk/