Brighter Berkshire is the name for the initiative - 2017 Year of Mental Health.

Over the year the aims were to

• increase awareness
• reduce stigma, and
• increase local opportunities for people with mental health challenges.

The year saw a great many activities take place supported by hundreds of people giving up their time to engage in local activities and millions engage online.

Take a look at some of the activities on our website here www.brighterberkshire.com

The initiative started in Newbury with a planning event at Newbury Rugby Club on the 16 December and we would like to round up the years activities with an end of year event in Newbury!

The initiative will take on a new form going forward and you will hear more about this on the day.

This event is aimed at anyone who has an interest in mental health and who is supportive of the Brighter Brighter initiative.

Programme - at Council Chambers, Market Street Council Offices, Newbury

Light refreshments will be provided

18.00 Introductions & Reflections on the year - Alison Foster, Founder, Volunteer, Brighter Berkshire

18.15 BBC Radio Berkshire – Talking Heads - Angela Ryan, Co-host Talking Heads Show & CEO West Berkshire Recovery College

18.25 - Changing lives through fundraising and grant giving - Berkshire Community Foundation & Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership Berkshire

18.35 - Impact on a local business- Aimee Knight, Head of Wellbeing, Dingleys Promise

18.45 - Community focus on Preventing Suicide - Garry Poulson, Chair of West Berkshire Suicide Action Group and Director West Berkshire Voluntary centre & Kennet Radio Presenter and Using theatre effectively in the workplace for mental health

18.55 - Changing Our Local Community Culture - James Fredrickson, Chair of West Berkshire Health and Wellbeing Board

19.05 - Local perspective, local impact, political engagement – why antistigma campaign’s are important -

• Alana Finn - Local Labour activist, Vodafone employee with experience of family suicide, and mental health first aider.
• Judith Bunting, Liberal Democrat 2017 Paliamentary Candidate for Newbury.
• Richard Benyon MP, Newbury

19.35 - Questions and open discussion from the floor

19.45 - Networking

We also have a survey running and would love to hear your views on the year so we can add them to the results.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7RQV6JV

Alison Foster, Founder and Volunteer, Brighter Berkshire