Mental health trust listens to local people’s views at music festival
The importance of connecting with local communities was highlighted by a mental health governor after attending a music event in Wroxham on Sunday.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) lead governor Rebecca Toye, and governors Abbie Kampta and Paul Harrison joined membership officer Lesley Hastie with an information stand at the Black Dog Music Festival held at the football ground on Sunday.
Rebecca said: “The event provided an important opportunity for governors to connect into communities. It just shows the importance of going out to where people are and not waiting for them to come to us as every contact counts.”
She said Black Dog Music Project was an organisation close to the heart of governors. “The work of Black Dog Music Project directly relates to one of our new strategic priorities in that we need to work closely with partners to improve wellbeing and outcomes for service users and carers.”
Governors heard some of the wonderful stories of how the project made huge differences to people’s confidence and self-esteem. “It was really heartening to see the difference one charity can make within their community,” said Rebecca.
Lesley said: ‘Attending events like The Black Dog Music Festival is an important way that governors can support mental health charities and listen to local people’s views on NSFT’s services. The festival was also a great opportunity for governors to showcase the work that they do and the benefits of Trust membership.”
The event also gave Rebecca the chance to link up with Vice Lord-Lieutenant Michael Gurney, who talked to her about how NSFT can get involved with his work around mental health.
Michael, from Cromer, has been a trustee of the Norfolk Community Foundation, served on the Norwich Diocese Board of Finance; a board member of Norwich4jobs and on the Advisory Board of Norwich Business School, and served as High Sheriff of Norfolk 2021/22.
To find out more about how to support NSFT to deliver safer, kinder and better care by joining our Trust membership visit www.nsft.nhs.uk/membership
