Every month we spotlight amazing organisations in Wales that are doing great things in the community. This month we are interviewing Homestart Cymru including what services they offer, their Rainbow Volunteer programme and how they have expanded to reach families during the course of the pandemic.

Breathe UK are a growing social enterprise with a focus on offering affordable access to counselling and working with other third sector organisations and Universities. Read on to find out about how they adapted to the pandemic and how to make the steps into being referred to counselling.

Adele Jones from Mind Monmouthshire tells us all about the services they offer and a look into the rest of 2021

Feel good and good mood food recipes and snacks to boost mental health and feel good. Laura Warren and fellow single parent gives her top recipes and ideas to use food as a way of making you feel good from the inside out.

Mental health awareness week has a focus on nature this year so we are releasing a series of blogs, videos and audios for suggestions around being more connected to nature.

FAN was set up to provide a friendly and relaxed way for local people and those from around the world to meet, talk and listen to each other. Find out about what they do and how to get involved from FAN Manager Sarah Duncan-Jones.

Clare Skidmore answers our Community Spotlight questions around Race Equality First, and the amazing work they do tackling discrimination and promoting and campaigning for race equality. Read on to find out about the vast amount of work and support they offer and how we can support and promote their services.

Mental health, is a statement that seems to be ever present at the moment, but what does that really mean?  Or maybe the question could be, what does it mean to you?

Please take a minute to think about what the term mental health means to you, maybe jot down what you would say if someone were to ask, 

“Hey, how is your mental health?”

Now, let’s start with what the definition is.

We wanted to celebrate and tell you more information about Mental Health Foundation. We have partnered with MHF right from the start of SPW. They have really supported us to shape and move forward what we do with a focus on mental health. They really are the gurus of mental health in our eyes, and have so many great projects and ways to get involved. For mental health awareness week this year the theme is Nature and the Environment, which we can’t wait for!

We play as children throughout our development, so why, as we grow up, do we stop having all the fun and games? Life becomes busy, stressful and we have excessive responsibilities. So sometimes, we forget what it is or what it’s like to just let go a little. BUT the importance of taking time for ourselves, is one of the main ways to keep our mental health on track! Fortunately for us, the development of games were introduced to help people reduce stress. Wellbeing First let’s talk about wellbeing.

Even before this pandemic research consistently showed that single parents are likely to experience loneliness and isolation. Loneliness and isolations has always been a big issue for single parents and something that is brought up over and over again with SPW members. 

Who would have believed it? There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has taken us all by surprise. Even those who should have been better informed on the risk of a pandemic sweeping the globe have been caught out! (Coronavirus: World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO).

When I first split from my partner the idea of dating somebody new was not at the top of my priority list, it was more about finding a new house and keeping a 4 year old and a newborn alive on my own.

It’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness week and this subject is very close to my heart and a lot of other single mums. As a single parent you are twice as likely to be depressed than a mum in a coupled relationship. I had Post Natal Depression with both of my children, and I want other mums to know that they aren’t alone in their dark feelings and thoughts at this difficult time of having a new baby.