News & Features
The latest updates and insights from the Devon Mental Health Alliance
Feature: A Week in the Life of a Community Mental Health Development Lead
Matt Merriam shares his experience of a typical week in the life of a Community Development Lead at the Devon Mental Health Alliance.
Co-Production Week 2023: Designing a community listening project alongside service users
We worked with five experts by experience who guided the project to test a new approach on gathering lived experience information to influence mental health services in Devon.
Innovation Fund helps support Wellbeing in Nature sessions for socially isolated men
The project aims to provide a space for men to take a break from their everyday lives, connect with nature, and build supportive relationships.
Northern Devon Mental Health Network restarts with support from the Alliance
The aim of the meeting was to provide a space for professionals to connect, share information, and collaborate on ways to improve mental health support in the area.
Cycle Torbay launch weekly social bike rides thanks to Alliance Innovation Fund
The recent Riviera Riders Project aimed to help improve mental health outcomes and increased social networks.
DMHA provides Innovation Fund grant to support veterans with PTSD in Northern Devon
The purpose of the project is to give veterans a space to develop useful skills and confidence through a connection with nature, and being with others who have been through similar experiences to them.
Focus on co-production in service design: Involving people with lived experience
We recently attended an NHS England South West event covering various aspects of co-production, involving people who have lived experience of mental health issues in the redesign of services.
Some amazing feedback for one of our Recovery Practitioners in Plymouth!
We’re delighted to share these positive quotes from someone who was supported by one of our Recovery Practitioners recently.
Innovation Fund helps support running the Quiet Lounge anxiety cafe
The 6-week group in Teignmouth, delivered by Volunteering in Health, covers self-help approaches and solution-focused peer support for low level anxiety and associated difficulties.
DMHA grant helping Significant Seams to support more young people in mid-Devon
The organisation uses creativity, textiles, craft, and art to build community and support people in vulnerable life moments.
Launching a partnership with the Donkey Sanctuary
The centre in Sidmouth offers a wide range of donkey-assisted activities, which use contact with animals and nature as bases for improving mental health and wellbeing in children and adults.
Orchard Forest School awarded Innovation Fund for over 50s and intergenerational groups
The weekly over 50s group provides opportunities for social interaction, building social connections, and physical activity.
A successful first Devon, Plymouth & Torbay VCSE Assembly Mental Health Hub
Key themes included the importance of sustainable commissioning, the ability of the Voluntary and Community Sector to drive joined up working in partnership with funders, and challenges in data sharing.
Joining the active mental health conversation in Okehampton
There were plenty of topics to cover as we invited people from numerous organisations helping people with mental health needs to Okehampton.
Horse & Heart receives Innovation Fund grant to deliver more workshops
The funding will help the social enterprise to deliver more holistic horsemanship workshops to help improve people’s mental wellbeing.
Innovation Fund supports Headway Devon’s creative journaling project
Headway Devon offers a range of therapeutic support options for people who experienced brain injuries.
Plymouth REG awarded Innovation Fund grant for educational workshops
The organisation delivers popular workshops centred around recovery from mental health problems in Plymouth.
We’re working closely with social prescribers and wellbeing coaches across East & Mid Devon
We recently met with mental health and wellbeing workers to discuss their own wellbeing and working more sustainably.
Sign up for the first Devon, Plymouth & Torbay VCSE Assembly Mental Health Hub!
It’s free and open to attend the first meeting, in which we will review the Community Mental Health Framework implementation and impact
Innovation Fund grant awarded to Cognivity CIC for ongoing creative sessions
The Creative Growth project provides ongoing weekly creative sessions in a safe, supported learning environment.