The Rethink Tea Party came to head office in London on Wednesday the 16th October and staff were treated to top notch service from our own Chief Executive Paul Jenkins.  Paul donned a lovely pinney and mad hatters hat and, with a tea trolley in hand, made the day a great sucess by serving tea and cakes in return for donations to Rethink.  

The Rethink Gemini Project & Carers Support Service went to town with their tea trolleys laden with cakes, tea & information on mental health which the staff & members gave to passers by in return for donations. The event was held to celebrate World Mental Health Day and raised a fantastic £350 for Rethink.

Barriers were broken down as members of the public approached staff and carers from the project to find out more about Rethink and our work.

Congratulations to the Gemini Project and Carers Support Service! 

The Windsor Ascot and Maidenhead Rethink tea party was highly publicised and really well attended by the public, Rethink members and our service users.  Local cake shops helped ot organise the event and there were plenty of homemade cakes.  Comedian, Brian Rose, also attended the event and did his famous sketch of an angry old man living in the fun and weird times of today. The hall was packed and vital funds were raised for Rethink and our National Information and Advice Service. 

Rethink’s Springfield Advocacy Service held their fundraising Tea Party on Friday 2nd October. Hospital staff, patients and service users came together to enjoy live music, games, competitions and of course delicious homemade tea and cake, including Chair of the Rethink Board of Trustees Mr. Bert Johnson. As well as raising money, there was the opportunity to learn more about both the Advocacy Service and Rethink’s work, with screenings of the anti-stigma campaign videos and information on the local and regional Time to Change campaigns. There was also a pool contest, bring and buy sale, lucky dip,  as well as lots of food and drink including vegan and ethnic options. It was a great opportunity for staff and service users to meet and socialise together, as well as raise money. In total £117 was raised for the NIAS, which offers information on all aspects of mental illness including treatment, care, support, welfare benefits, rehabilitation and employment.

Carers from the Scunthorpe Support Group baked a grand selection of cakes and were able to raise a wonderful £256.  They have also been able to secure matched funding from one of the carers' employer meaning they raised a fantastic £512 for Rethink! 

Congratulations to the group for their great effort!

Visitors were treated to plenty of tea and cakes at the Wordsworth Centre on Friday 9th October as staff held a Rethink tea party to help raise vital funds for Rethink. Visitors were in good spirits and there was a cheerful atmosphere around the centre. The jumble sale proved to be a great success.

Rugby Rethink were hosts to a fancy dress Mad Hatters Tea Party. Staff and Service Users of Rugby and other local Rethink services enjoyed tea, cakes, games, competitions, sales and saw a live jazz performance by Swing Museum!

The party was an array of colour, including costumes such as cats, mad hatters and rabbits! The event was great fun for all and raised £105.00 for Rethink as well as creating awareness of Mental Health issues just ahead of World Mental Health Day.

Rugby Rethink, Service User, Jade Mazey states “It was a brilliant day, the sun shined and everything was fun!” and the staff had a great time too, Community Mental Health Assistant Jess Johal states “The event was colorful in every possible way, everyone got involved and dug deep to raise vital funds for Rethink. We had local press snap photos for the local papers and even the Mayoress came over for a cuppa! We are very proud of everyone who was involved and want to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped!”  Rugby Rethink, Service User, Dot Judd (who dressed up as a cat) summarised the event, in Dot’s view “ It was a puuuurrfect day!!”