Guest Speakers Boosting Support at Kingsbridge Drop-in
The Devon Mental Health Alliance runs Mental Health & Recovery Drop-ins, situated across Devon. These sessions offer free, regular walk-in spaces where anyone is welcome to come, sit and chat with no expectations. This Autumn, our Kingsbridge Drop-in has enjoyed 2 guest visitors, from Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Well-being Workshops. Our Kingsbridge Sessional Recovery Practitioners, Ruby and Lindsay, who run the Kingsbridge Drop-in weekly, have told us more about what this means to the group.
Kingsbridge Citizen’s Advice Bureau
On the 14th October, the Drop-in welcomed Oleh Bilous from Kingsbridge Citizen’s Advice Bureau who offered attendees Energy Advice. DMHA’s Sessional Recovery Practitioner, Lindsay, said "we had a very lively and positive visit from Oleh, sharing information on Energy Advice. He discussed really helpful ways of keeping energy costs down and keeping warm this winter.”
Opportunities to hold face-to-face advice sessions in our Drop-ins are vital to supporting people’s mental health effectively, especially when it comes to stressors such as energy and financial strain. As the colder months set in, partnership working such as this offer crucial support to communities through winter.
Lindsay continued to explain, “Oleh was also to take non-energy related referrals back to other CAB Advisers including referrals for pension and benefit entitlements.” The Devon Mental Health Alliance are proud to hold these proactive spaces, where communities are welcome to come and link in with services who may be able to support them alongside us.
Citizen’s Advice Bureau will return to Kingsbridge Drop-in on the 24th March 2026 for another advice session.
Well-being Workshop
This month, the group enjoyed a Well-being Workshop about “Managing and understanding emotions”, the workshop included identifying emotions and devising coping strategies. Held by Lauren from Well-being Workshops, the session was described as “really engaging and constructive” and“enjoyed by all” said Ruby, DMHA Sessional Recovery Practitioner.
Ruby continued, "We enjoyed a really engaging and lively afternoon with Lauren, helping us to understand our emotions and develop coping strategies. This guides us to make the pleasant emotions last longer and reduce the less pleasant feelings, moving towards a Wave of Contentment.”
Our practitioners and attendees raved about the effect Lauren’s Well-being Workshop had. One attendee said “I learnt different ways to help regulate and recognise my feelings. It was very useful.” Another said, it was “surprisingly interesting” and that they saw it as “a modern take on something we have been doing for years”, which was very “well delivered” by Lauren.
As part of the session, the group collectively created a visual aid, named “the Tree of Love, Harmony and Happiness."
Kingsbridge’s next Guest Speaker will be Cyber Protect Officer, Mick Harrison, scheduled for Tuesday 27th January 2026.
Kingsbridge Drop-ins are every Tuesday 1:30-4:30pm at Tumbly Hill Wellbeing Hub.
You can find out more here: Kingsbridge Drop-in page. Or view our full Drop-in offer here: Main Drop-in Page.
