South Somerset Mind
Drop In CentreSouth Somerset Mind is a registered charity formed 21 years ago.
South Somerset Mind involves users in decision making, the committee is at present split 50/50 between users and non users. We are working towards a situation where the majority of the executive committee are users.
South Somerset Mind is based at the Markwick Centre, with counselling services currently based at Penn House. South Somerset Mind is committed to provide routes to meaningful occupation and developing services to encourage this.
Our aims are:
To provide an alternative supportive service to those who experience or are vulnerable to mental ill health.
To support people who either fall through the statutory services net or who do not wish (for whatever reason) to receive support from the statutory sector.
To help people move in and out of statutory services as appropriate.
To promote independent living, keeping responsibility for themselves with the client.
To develop innovative practice which is responsive and enabling.
To increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma.
To promote better mental health.
History of the Drop In Centre
The first drop in centre was in the White Hut in Yeovil, which used to be the canteen for the old Huish School. The site was demolished to make way for the new Tesco superstore development.
The Drop In then moved to an old pub building on the opposite side of the road and South Somerset Mind took over the responsibility of running it. At this stage it became an organisation working with those vulnerable to mental ill health. It was not long before the Tesco site development made it necessary to demolish this building as well to make space for further expansion of the superstore.
The next temporary home for the Mind Drop In centre was in the old Holy Trinity Church in Peter Street, this was far from ideal as there were no kitchen facilities and we were cramped together at the back of the church. The Church was then converted into the Foyer project and we moved to our next temporary home which was the 'Green Hut'. This was more luxurious, with several rooms and a separate kitchen with a serving hatch!. Unfortunately we were just getting comfortable when it was condemned as a fire risk and we had to move to premises in Mill Lane. This was quite a set back as we were then in one upstairs room with no ventilation, no disabled access and no alternative exit. The users were frustrated, but after a long wait we managed to purchase the Markwick Centre in Dampier Street.