MADS Group Update

By in Clubs & Societies MADS Group Regular Features

It’s been full steam ahead once again for the MADS Group and we’re still doing everything we can to help the community of Syston and still trying to come up with ideas of raising funds for our group. So our work forever on going.
Everyone was thrilled and over the moon that MADS Group made the front page of the Stn for the first time in five years. It was a really proud moment for the group.
For those of you who are just finding out about us, here’s a rundown of who we are and what we do.
Who are we?
We are a non-profit support group called MADS. (Mental health, Anxiety and Depression Support). We are run by a group of us who all have our own experiences with mental health in some way shape or form and we all have different experiences to each other. Five of us run the group with a carefully selected team of volunteers. We are here to make members feel comfortable, relaxed and to give them a place to feel safe. Members can also talk to a pair of our team if they need to let something off their chest.
What do we do?
We primarily started as a simple coffee morning group but decided that we needed something more, so we started to include various activities to keep members minds active. We never solely do just one activity. Here’s some of the stuff we do:

  • Crafts to help that motor function in our brains.
  • Quizzes to have a laugh and test our knowledge in a fun way.
  • Karaokes aren’t a regular thing but we have found this helps people increase their confidence and have fun.
  • Bingo is a favourite and its good for helping people with numbers and digits.
  • Health and well being discussions are great for us all to talk together about things like coping mechanisms, support networks, mindful home activities etc.
  • Talking sessions are also a good way for everyone to talk and get to know each other. We encourage people to be comfortable with one another.
    We also try to arrange visitors to our group and in the past we have had the following with some of them who continue returning to us:
  • U3A Crafter, Helen Disley
  • U3A’s Happy Ukelele Band
  • Mental Health Professionals
  • Animal Therapy (Animals for
    Parties)
  • The Leicestershire Fire and Rescue
    Service
  • The Leicestershire Police / Syston’s
    Local Officers
  • A Hypnotherapist
  • Entertainers
  • Carl Holyland with a Self Defence
    Session
  • Syston Community Flood Group
  • A visitor from Voluntary Action Leicester/BUILD
    We have done a lot in five years and had plenty of visitors but please do remember, we are merely here to support people with mental health and loneliness. We wont ever focus on one activity. A few people have been regarding us as a craft group or constantly expecting one activity all the time. We are a support group who tries to give our members different forms of enrichment to help our minds, brains, confidence and self esteem. If this group sounds like its for you or a family member then please do come along to our group on a Wednesday morning from 10am to 12pm at the Syston Working Mens Club.
    You can find us on Facebook and in the Green Pages of the Stn.
    To get in touch with the MADS Group you can also use any of the following:
    Tel: 0777 469 5160
    E-Mail: madsgroup@yahoo.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madsupportgroup
    Written by Deanna Johnson – Media and PR for MADS Group
    [DISCLAIMER: We are not medical or healthcare professionals. We just want to provide a safe space for those who need the help to take that step into reaching out for the correct professional support which we can signpost members to.]