A Mattering Village. It takes a village… The phrase referenced above introduces the idea that a village is required to raise a child. A child that can flourish in terms of character, learning, wellbeing, develop positive relationships and make a contribute to other people’s lives. A child living in a village that adds value and feels valued. A village that matters. In other words, a Mattering village. These villages can exist to work with people going directly and explicitly through difficulties. They can also be more subtle indirectly supporting the grow of the self, to have a sense of worth, have positive experiences, maybe involve developing a craft or a skill and wellbeing. Mattering with intent is a “we” activity. A coming together between people who both benefit from the meaningful connection. Mattering with intent can help a person work through emotional distress, reclaim themselves after experiencing ab...
Posts
We need a HR (Human Resources) revolution when dealing with mental health and well-being! Our current HR approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing doesn’t work! If anything, it’s harmful! Why is it harmful you may ask? It’s like ‘applying a sticking plaster with a hammer’. It hurts like hell, and it doesn’t work! Let me explain what the problem is, but I need to tell you a story first. A middle manager is going through a tough time at work and at home. He’s struggling with his workload and staffing issues. At home, he’s struggling with his relationship. A lack of communication is cited by his partner. He meets with a member of the HR team to discuss difficulties at work. A referral is made to a Counsellor and he is advised to visit his GP. A sick note is issued. Then he goes home, away from some of the stresses of work.But now he’s also cut off from his colleagues and work friends. The meaning and purpose he also gained from the job he loved is removed and he starts to think “I’m o...
Another “mental health” promotion stall
Another “mental health” promotion stall I’ve sat behind many tables in public places in my time, ready, waiting to hand over leaflets, pens and keyrings. I’ve visited many stalls collected mints, a stress ball, useful information packs (amazing packs by PRIMHE), a chocolate orange, and cupcakes and most importantly post-it notes. The people on the stalls have been friendly, warm, kind, tired and bored, as you would expect to find. The reason is we want to connect with people who might benefit from the services we provide. We want to talk to the general public - people who don’t come to our services, or might, or have previously, and might again. It’s a recruitment campaign hidden behind smiles and free gifts. A well-meaning campaign, but is it effective and are we missing something obvious? As I walked away from talking to the stall holders (my organisation had a stall there too) I reflected. The people I knew on the stalls had clients, new clients every day and wee...
The Hart of Our Club (HOOC) 1908 Blog
The Hart Of Our Club (HOOC) 1908 - #HUFC The first blog of Making sense of wanted to discuss a big, ambitious, something that is a phenomenon and out of this world. So, we chose The Hart Of Our Club1908 (HOOC1908), as it’s the talk of the terraces, the town, and of that distant land of London. A truly remarkable story of how a small group (19) of committed and passionate friends create a movement that has touched so many people’s hearts and minds. This is more than being a fan, its being part of an extraordinary group of people who have created community on the terraces and in the seats. How did it start? well we talked to one of the current drivers behind the scenes Paul Shears who said for me “Going to away games for over 30 years where he experienced an amazing feeling of camaraderie, togetherness and shared passion. Then you would bump into one of the lads at the mid-week game and they might not speak and have their heads down”. We decided to try & create in association with th...