Much Ado About Nothing
We are incredibly excited for the Troubadour Stageworks outdoor production of Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING next Wednesday, on 15th June 2022, in the gorgeous setting of Kingfishers garden in Lymington – overlooking the Isle of Wight. A perfect opportunity for a bit of family fun!
We are extremely grateful to the team for helping to raise funds for Hammersley Homes and are delighted to welcome Troubadour Stageworks to perform in Lymington where we hope you will join us!
Doors open 5:30 for 7pm performance at Kingfishers, Normandy Lane, Lymington SO41 8AE. Please bring rugs or chairs or something to sit on, and if you don’t feel like bringing a picnic, there will be food and drinks trucks there offering a variety of delicious treats.
Ticket prices:
£20 adult
£15 child
£60 family (2 x adult, 2 x child)
Buy your tickets here, and please spread the word. We look forward to seeing you on the day!
New Office!
We are very excited to finally be moving in to our new offices in Lymington! After a long wait and lots of hard work from the team, we hope to have unpacked, set up and settled in by the end of June.
Full contact details will be provided once we have our new phone number.
It's Show Time!
This year Hammersley Homes will have its very own stall at the incredible New Forest Show from the 26th – 28th July.
Spend the day watching the show-jumping and dog shows, checking out the flower and vegetable competitions, visiting the craft and shopping tents, and munching on delicious local produce! The New Forest Show is a great day out for the family with something to offer for everyone. Don’t forget to pop in and see us.
In the News
Patrick Cockburn tells his story of the mistakes he made in response to his son’s diagnosis of Schizophrenia. A brilliant read with a real insight into the truth behind schizophrenia, how it effects the individual and those who are close to them.
Asking scarred Ukranian refugees to wait 2 years for support in dealing with their trauma is deplorable. This is just another symptom of a wider problem: there’s no mental health support for refugees because the system is already stretched to breaking point, for Brits and Ukrainians alike.
The need to transition from child to adult mental health services is leaving a gaping hole in our mental health support systems. Many have to start from scratch in being assessed and accessing support. Many find the support they then receive is lacking – ‘it’s your responsibility’. Many fall out of the system altogether. An 18th birthday doesn’t mean support is no longer needed.
Imprisoning people in mental health crisis might be slightly more understandable (if still problematic) if we could be sure that they would receive the care they need in prison. But a lack of resources means that this simply doesn’t happen. Cases like these are burdening the criminal justice system and putting already-vulnerable people in even worse situations. These guidelines demonstrate an utter lack of empathy for those experiencing mental illness.
It’s incredible how much simple strategies like spending more time in nature can benefit our mental health – great to see the rise of ‘social prescribing’ as a response to mental illness. Medication shouldn’t be stigmatized, but nor should non-medical treatments be undervalued. Take care of your own mental health by getting outside when you can today.
You could take part in our #WALK22IN2022 challenge at the same time – get your friends to sponsor you on your walk – as far as works for you – to raise funds for Hammersley Homes!
Only 198 days to go!
Please forgive us for the ridiculously early mentioning of Christmas… but once again we are applying to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge this year, where all donations that we receive will be doubled. To take part, we need to raise £3,000 of pledged donations, minimum of £100 each; pledges won’t be collected until December 2022, and then only if we reach our donation target in Big Give week. If you or anyone you know might be willing to contribute to our pledge target, please be in touch!
Meet the Team - Anne Webster, Outreach Home Officer
What made you want to apply for your position?
Having understood the vision and goals of Hammersley Homes, I immediately recognised how vital and beneficial the charity is in supporting people living with mental illness. Having always worked in ‘person-centred’ roles I am aware of the demand for support and have seen first-hand the impact mental illness can have on individuals, families and loved ones. Having a role as an Appropriate Adult has enabled me to recognise and understand the true extent of mental illness and barriers that exist that need to be overcome. Having currently only been able to provide support within the remit of the role, working as an Outreach Support Visitor for Hammersley Homes will enable me to extend and provide much needed assistance for those living with mental ill health and for them to strive to seek life experiences and enrich their quality of life deserved and entitled to by everyone.
What aspects of the work do you enjoy?
I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to be part of the Hammersley Homes team and feel there is no greater reward than supporting and seeing someone flourish. I have the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people, who with our support are not subject to loneliness and isolation. It gives me great pleasure in supporting people that would otherwise be left and unable to access services that are often oversubscribed, leaving them vulnerable and lonely. There is no better feeling than knowing that you have made someone’s day a bit brighter by just being there and showing you care. I have a keen interest in mental illness and acknowledged that it can happen to anyone of us at some time in our life. Wouldn’t it be a reassurance to know that somebody is there to offer warmth and compassion!
What previous roles and experience have you had that makes you perfect for this sort of work?
I have worked in education for over sixteen years, where I have supported individual pupils with special needs, prior to this I was a volunteer with Hampshire Probation Service, where I supported people to integrate into society. I am a trained Appropriate Adult, where I act as an advocate to vulnerable adults and juveniles, whilst in police custody and work as a Family Contact Supervisor to promote meaningful relationships in a calm and safe environment. There is often a correlation within these roles, where mental illness is a contributing factor, and I am very understanding of this.
What do you think is the best thing about our outreach service, and what further support do you think clients might benefit from that we are currently unable to provide?
The Outreach Service provides opportunity for those that are struggling with isolation and loneliness to be encouraged and supported in achieving their personal goals and aspirations. By just having a listening ear or someone to offer friendship helps provide a foundation for those to make positive contributions to society. Hammersley Homes is a new venture with clear visions and values, I am very much looking forward to being involved and seeing the progression of both the charity and those that it aims to support. It is hoped during the development of Hamersley Homes it will extend its services to provide supported living as well as maybe drop-in centres where people can feel, respected, valued and secure without judgement.
Support our work
If you are able to make regular donations to Hammersley Homes, be that £1 or £10, the progress that we can make would be enormous. If you’re considering regular donations, please click the donate button below. As always, thank you for all of your support! We really couldn’t do it without you.
Please spread the word about our vital work OR DONATE just £3 a month to change a life, by texting 3HOMES to 70580.
Texts cost £3 plus two standard rate messages and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text 3HOMESNOINFO to 70580.
Hammersley Homes – Registered Charity Number 1180673