Marking 4 Years of MADS Group
On Wednesday 11th September, we celebrated four years since the start of the MADS (Mental health, Anxiety & Depression Support) Group in Syston that is run by Bev & Deanna Johnson, George & Lillie Blount and Mark Connah with remote support.
The MADS Group is there to help anyone with mental health implications or even loneliness. We do our best to provide a warm and safe space for the community
We aren’t counsellors or mental health professionals but we can happily signpost people to those we know who can provide that professional help and care.
Tracy from Syston’s Tesco Store, had donated some party food for us and we celebrated with our members with a Karaoke provided by Carl Petch of Syston Brookside Working Men’s Club (WMC). Several members found the confidence to get up and sing in front of the group and one young lady in particular at the age of 21 sang multiple times and really wowed the entire group. When she started our group she never spoke a word to anyone, and over time, her confidence has grown. This was a perfect gift to us at the group as it really showed us that we really do make a difference. If she or her family read this, we want them to know just how proud we are of her progress since joining the group. She really is a ray of sunshine.
We plan to do more over the next year or so to raise money for our group and possibly run various events. Keep your eyes peeled. All money raised goes towards providing everything for our members and the hire of The Brookside Suite at the WMC. All we ask is that members pay a minimum of £1 to help us with the running of the group.
We also had a stall at the recent Syston Summer Fayre where we sold various items and raffled off a variety of items. This stall was run by Bev Johnson and Mark Connah. I dipped in and out to help when I could as I was also on Stn duty to make sure we had some good photos of the event. We want to thank everyone who helped us reach the amazing amount of £216.00!
We are eternally grateful to the community of Syston and here’s to beginning the next year of our MADS Group journey!
By Deanna Johnson
Any mentions of names will be kept confidential and any photos will have faces covered to keep their privacy, Unless they agree to the use of their name and their face in the photograph. This is so we can still provide you with images showing what we do!
