Double glory for Suffolk Mind at East Suffolk Awards

We’re pleased to share that there was double glory for Suffolk Mind last month, as we won two East Suffolk Awards in recognition of our innovative ways to teach children and adults about their mental health.

We won both the Health and Wellbeing and Great Idea awards at the gala evening at Snape Maltings on Tuesday, 28^th February.

The awards recognised and celebrated two of our key services:

• Our free-to-access mental health training course for Friends of Suffolk Mind, The Mental Health Toolkit: The Essentials (formerly Suffolk’s Needs Met)
  
•  Our fun, psychologically-informed children’s book Sammy the Sea Squirt, which teaches the link between movement and good mental health

Jon Neal (pictured left), CEO of Suffolk Mind, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won these awards.

“The demand for our services continues to grow, but it’s so important people in the county know support is out there.

“We are very proud of The Mental Health Toolkit and know it has the power to make a real difference – while Sammy’s story is helping inspire thousands of children to live happy and active lives.

“We are incredibly grateful to East Suffolk Council, and all the award sponsors, for their recognition and look forward to continuing on our quest to make Suffolk the best place in the world to talk about and take care of mental health.”

Earning Suffolk Mind the Health and Wellbeing Award, the free half-day training is available to anyone who registers as a Friend of Suffolk Mind, which is completely free.

It focuses on introducing people to their Emotional Needs & Resources, and equips them with the tools, skills and knowledge to look after themselves and those around them.

Sammy the Sea Squirt won the charity this year’s Great Idea Award, with the judges impressed by its effect on teaching children about the link between movement and mental health.

More than 8,000 copies of the book, written by the charity’s Head of Education Ezra Hewing and illustrated by local artist Emma Graham, have been donated to five-year-olds across the county since 2021.

The character also tours schools across Suffolk alongside children’s mental health trainer Louise Harris, delivering assemblies and workshops. Louise, pictured centre, said she was “so proud to be part of the amazing team at Suffolk Mind, making a real difference to the mental health of so many people.”

Wendy Sheppard – our Client Relationships Manager (pictured right), who helps organisations access the workplace wellbeing training offered by The Mental Health Toolkit by Suffolk Mind, said: We had a fabulous evening. It was a pleasure to meet lots of new people who are also making a big difference in their local communities – well done to everyone that attended.”

Those looking to become a friend of Suffolk Mind can do so for free via our application form.

You can also purchase a copy of Sammy the Sea Squirt on our website.