The Hub peer support and social groups enable service users to participate in peer support with the aim of improving mental wellbeing, while participating in group activities and engaging within the local community.
The Hub plays an important role in providing a safe, confidential and non-judgmental environment where service users meet and participate in social activities that help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
This service is only funded for those living within Stirlingshire, Scotland.
The Hub can help service users to manage their own mental health and wellbeing, and work towards recovery. The Hub offers:
- Peer support and social activities
- Skills development in financial capabilities, IT and budgeting
- Physical health, e.g. walking group, healthy eating, smoking cessation and yoga
- Employability – pre-employment activities and volunteering
Additional support available includes:
- The Money, Benefits and Advice Service (Mental Health) partnered with Stirling Citizens Advice Bureau helps our service users with benefit applications and appeals, debt management and general advice. Our service users access support from the trained CAB worker by referral from the service manager or support worker.
The Hub supports people should they become unwell or distressed, whether they are at the Hub or at home. Every Hub service user can speak with the service manager, the support worker, or a trained support volunteer should they feel they are unwell or in distress. Most times talking can help service users manage their symptoms.
Should the service user continue to feel unwell while at the Hub, we will encourage individuals to use their safety plan and contact the person they need to. If a service user is unable to do this the service manager, support worker or volunteer would contact their GP for an emergency appointment and transport them to the medical centre, or to the Accident and Emergency Department in Larbert if required.
Referral Process
The Hub accepts referrals of people with complex and enduring mental illnesses. If you are 18 and over you can ask your GP, mental health nurse or any other professional you work with to refer you into the Hub.
Once we have received your referral, you will be contacted by the service manager and invited along to an initial assessment where you can find out a little more about the service.
The Hub runs Monday-Friday, via assigned staff- or volunteer-led groups.
Feedback from service users:
“I have found the Hub a really good place to socialise, talk to others about mental health problems regarding every day issues. I loved yoga and the keep fit classes at the Hub. Walks with volunteers were good and going to cinema an experience.”
“The Hub was a great place for me as it’s let me know I am not alone in my feelings. The activities helped keep all our minds off the problems we were having, and also having someone to talk to when I was feeling really low. Even at this time of the pandemic the staff have been there at the end of a phone when I am not feeling too great. I feel that I could not go on without the service they have given me over the last year. Thanks for all your help.”
“I am grateful for the love and care and support I have received through the Hub Service from AiM. The activities and peer support delivered through the service have helped me to maintain a daily routine, develop daily living skills and helps me manage my mental health. Through peer support we are able to listen to each other with compassion and understanding. We can share our lived experiences and give each other advice and guidance. With encouragement I have enjoyed going to the gym with the peer group and support from the volunteers at AiM. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received through the Hub service to join and participate in outdoor and social activities. I have enjoyed spending time with my peer group going out for short walks, in the good and bad weather. We have been able to support each other going to the cinema and going to see a show. Without this support I would not have the self-confidence to go on my own. I would find it difficult to motivate myself to go out.”
Volunteering in the Hub
All volunteers are trained and supported by Action in Mind. All volunteers must have current membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme before they can begin volunteering within the Hub. We can arrange membership of the PVG Scheme.
Volunteering is typically during office hours, 9am-5pm, occasionally out of hours and at weekends.
There is no set time limit on how long anyone can volunteer at the Hub, however we usually request a minimum 12-month commitment.
“The activities and peer support delivered through the service have helped me to maintain a daily routine, develop daily living skills and helps me manage my mental health.”
“The activities and peer support delivered through the service have helped me to maintain a daily routine, develop daily living skills and helps me manage my mental health.”
Our Befriending Team works with individuals in Stirlingshire who experience poor mental wellbeing and are socially isolated by giving them the opportunity to regularly meet with a volunteer befriender.
Our volunteer befrienders are locally recruited and offer their free time to the befriending service. They must be 18 years or over and fulfill all of the requirements outlined in our bespoke volunteer recruitment and training program. Throughout their time working with our clients, they are provided with ongoing support from the Service Manager.
Who can use the Befriending Service?
Adults over the age of 18 who are struggling with their mental health and do not live in supported accommodation can access our befriending service. As the service operates in the local community, individuals must be able to leave their home independently. They can be referred by any person working with them in a professional capacity.
What happens in Befriending?
Our service users can expect to be supported by a volunteer Befriender on a one-to-one basis to engage with activities within the local community. Befriending clients are supported to devise their own personal goal plan by identifying key outcomes that they wish to achieve as a result of befriending support. It is the role of Befrienders to help motivate the client to take progressive steps towards achieving these. Befriending support is available to people for 12 months.
Our Befriending Service is only funded to support people living in Stirlingshire, Scotland.
