Sir Anthony Seldon visits mental health charity

Sir Anthony met with the mental health charity’s service users and volunteers to find out more about the charity from their perspective.

Sir Anthony sung along to music performed by Buckinghamshire Mind’s Aylesbury therapeutic music group and joined in with drumming performed by the charity’s Chesham therapeutic music group. Sir Anthony also enjoyed an art exhibition of work produced by Buckinghamshire Mind’s art groups in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Chesham.

Anita Templar-Wilson, volunteer Befriender for Buckinghamshire Mind, said: “It was a pleasure meeting Sir Anthony Seldon, and a lovely opportunity to speak with other volunteers and with service users.”

Sir Anthony Seldon is one of Britain’s leading contemporary historians, educationalists, commentators and political authors. He is author of over 40 books on contemporary history and was the co-founder and first Director of the Institute for Contemporary British History. He is also co-founder of Action for Happiness, Chair of the Comment Awards, a Director of The Royal Shakespeare Company and the President of IPEN (the International Positive Education Network).

Sir Anthony Seldon said: “I was very impressed by the breadth of Buckinghamshire Mind’s mental health services and I enjoyed my visit tremendously, particularly meeting all the wonderful service users and listening to the music groups perform.”

Also, on World Mental Health Day, Buckinghamshire Mind, in partnership with Time to Change Bucks, held stalls in the Market Square, Aylesbury, and in High Wycombe Library on World Mental Health Day. The stalls aimed to raise awareness, tackle the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems and provide information about Buckinghamshire Mind’s mental health services. Time to Change Champions, such as Buckinghamshire Mind’s Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Martyn Walsh, were available to talk with the public about their lived experience of mental health problems. The stalls were a great success, with lots of interest from local people.

Find out more about Time to Change Buckinghamshire at: www.timetochangebucks.org. For information, help and support, please visit www.bucksmind.org.uk