About Wandsworth Mind – in 2008

We were founded in 1973 by Pat Benians, a local resident and Labour Councillor. We are affiliated to National MIND, a relationship which is very important to us.

What is happening at Wandsworth MIND at the moment?

Like most small charities our fortunes have fluctuated over the years and at the moment we’re in a state of transition. For many years we have supported around 40 tenants in 5 shared houses and 17 independent flats. Until April 2007 we also ran two flourishing day services, the Pat Benians Centre in our main building, The Forester (yes, an ex-pub), and Heathside, which is in Roehampton. Unfortunately, we then lost our contract with Wandsworth Council to provide mental health daycare. Heathside transferred to a different charity, Together, which also opened their own centre near us in Wandsworth.

However, our users decided they wanted to stay with us and the PB Centre continues to flourish, though funding is always a problem. About 30 of our users are now getting Direct Payments so that they can pay for the service themselves and we hope that about 20 more will eventually find their way through the dense bureaucratic maze which seems to surround the Promised Land of the Direct Payment.

What else do we do?

We are still running our very successful second-hand clothing shop at 49 Danebury Avenue in Roehampton but our second-hand furniture shop along the road at no. 41 Danebury Avenue needs more donations of furniture and more volunteers (if you can help, please phone us at the Forester on 020 8875 9156 or Sharon at the shop on 020 8788 0070). Newer furniture sells much better than so-called brown furniture but we will collect any kind of furniture or bric-a-brac from anywhere in Wandsworth, or just outside.

And...?

The Forester has a large function room which is free most evenings and at weekends and we’re keen for it to be used by local groups with some kind of connection with mental or physical health – for a reasonable fee (020 8875 1914)

What don’t we do?

Every local MIND association is different and at the moment we don’t provide counselling, advocacy or advice though we’re always thinking of new ventures or projects

Finally…

A small charity like ours depends on – local support (both financial and moral), ideas, suggestions and feedback, volunteers and, of course, reliable funding and/or income

So, if you can help in any of these areas, get in touch – we really would like to talk to you

Jeremy Walker
Acting Director

director@wandsworth-mind.co.uk

020 8875 9162