As a Diocese, we believe in wellbeing-friendly and mental-health-friendly community: places where it’s OK not to be OK, places where people can come without being judged or excluded. Every parish has its own calling and its own shape, so what’s right for one church won’t be right for another; but we dare to believe that every parish can think seriously about offering something. This has led us to partnerships with some organisations that can help us think through ways to be mental-health-friendly church.
On Thursday 18 September 2025, at St Andrew’s Boreham, we will host a conference by the charities Renew Wellbeing and Kintsugi Hope. They will share two models of churches acting for the wellbeing of their communities - Renew Wellbeing providing a vision of quiet shared spaces (perhaps run as warm spaces over the winter), and Kintsugi Hope a vision of wellbeing groups that help struggling people to deal with issues such as shame, perfectionism and being overwhelmed. Among our keynote speakers will be Ruth Rice, the founder and CEPO of Renew Wellbeing.
Of course, not everyone can make a weekday event like this. But the shared spaces and wellbeing groups will usually be held on exactly such weekdays, and we wanted to combine as many people as possible from your church community; people who might be interested in running a weekday ministry of safe spaces or wellbeing groups. They might already be running a coffee morning or warm space - by coming to this conference they won't be committing themselves to anything new, but will be able to access a new set of resources.
"We are seeing a wave of wellbeing quietly replace a tsunami of poor mental health." - Ruth Rice.
"We all have inherent value, and deserve dignity, care and inclusion. With 1 in 4 adults in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year there has never been a more important time to focus on how we come together to understand, support and practically help anyone who is struggling with their mental health and wellbeing". Ellie Gage, Kintsugi Hope
Practical Arrangements: Bring your own packed lunch, we'll do the coffee and biscuits.
We'll send information on carparking nearing the date, and ask you about your access requirements.
You'll be welcome to come on your own, but it's even better (and more fun) if you could bring a couple of other people from your congregation, so you can learn about wellbeing spaces and wellbeing groups together.
