Advance's Thames Valley Team holds wellbeing day

April 25, 2024

The event aimed to raise awareness of the centre and strengthen relationships with Reading Probation Services and local organisations.

Charity Together for Mental Wellbeing (NHS Berkshire Healthcare) organised a sharing circle for women who use the centre, along with arts and crafts activities and spa treatments.

Abbie Horn, Advance Service Manager Thames Valley, said:

“The day was a huge success and attracted our highest client turnout in the Minerva Thames Valley service to date! Special thanks go to the Reading Probation Women’s Cohort for working alongside us to get our women engaged, and Together for Mental Wellbeing for their amazing Managing Emotions session. The event’s success owes so much to the support and organisation of my team; their determination to make the day a hit was amazing, and I feel so grateful for them. We’re all looking forward to running more groups and events in the future.”

Dali Kaur, Advance Head of Criminal Justice Services, said:

“I had a great time at our Caversham Women’s Centre event, seeing clients and professionals coming together. The wellbeing workshop was excellent, and networking opportunities were fantastic. A big well done to our Advance team in Thames Valley.”

Maggie, a service user who came along to the event, said:

“This was my second visit to the women’s centre, which I find such a warm and welcoming place to be. I travelled an hour after finishing my night shift, to go to the event but I didn’t want to miss it! And it was certainly worth it.”

Zahra Akhtar, from Together for Mental Wellbeing, said:

“The event went brilliantly, and we were so pleased with the interaction from the women that attended. Two women came up to us after the presentation and shared their personal experiences of struggles with managing emotions. One also said that the event had given her hope in believing that she would be able to gain employment and present a workshop herself one day!”