Groups & Activities
What's On
A timetable of where you can join in
- Facebook Isolation Group- for anyone in North Somerset
- Weekly Facebook Quiz
- Twice Monthly Book Club- Mondays & Wednesdays
- Happy Mondays Zoom- Mondays
- Strawberry Line Cycling- Wednesdays
- Thinking Out Loud - Wednesdays
- In-Person Peer Support- Thursdays
- Peer Support via Zoom- Thursdays
- Additional Peer Support Groups
- Weekly Walk & Talks - Fridays
- Additional Walk & Talks- monthly
- Other additional groups, trips and outings added- WATCH THIS SPACE
"...I'm so happy I made the Nailsea Walk & Talk. I was very anxious before. But meeting up and talking took my mind off of my anxiety.
It spurred me on to do the Clevedon Walk & Talk as well. It was lovely to meet up and see everyone.
My app recommends 6,000 steps per day for me.
As an added bonus I did 6,682 steps.
I've only managed that once before.
Whooo ! 😃
Exercise with Friends & Fun 😃👍"
The Walk and Talk Sessions are providing huge support to those involved.
An opportunity for gentle exercise in safe, dispersed groups- these can be a less anxiety-provoking setting for new peers, as well as a less structured setting for regulars.
A chance to connect and socialise in a normalised setting having human conversations.
Isolation and social anxieties are big concerns in these sustained times of uncertainty and worry.
In a time when Zoom and telephone calls only serve to heighten some people's already anxious minds, this is the perfect antidote. A taste of the ordinary and a chance to connect
If you want to join us, email us or reach us through the Contact page
The Walk & Talks at Clevedon, Backwell, Portishead and Weston have now supported over 60 people
Providing structure; social connection; good conversation; gentle exercise
Through lockdown and beyond. Inspiring individuals to join other groups and activities
Thinking Out Loud
Fit For Purpose
Aware Book Club
A social, supportive peer group sharing opinions and thoughts on a variety of literature.
Regular meetings in social distanced groups of 6 - to comply with current restrictions
This is a group with no other agendas other than to enjoy literature and share views.
The group has gratefully received support from Clevedon Lions Club to help with materials and a trip, and more recently further support through Clevedon Community Beekshop
"...My journey through mental health services has been pretty rocky, but We Are Aware is like an oasis of sanity amidst my struggles. The ethos is strong. It meets people where they are rather than trying to 'fix' them. I especially enjoy the book group where I can attend a normal social event with peers who have similar struggles, and there's no pressure to finish the book. I feel a lot of pressure in my life, but We Are Aware lifts the pressure and helps me keep perspective."
We Are Aware Isolation Support Group Facebook
A social media peer support group to offset the isolation of lockdown. Regular features like the Sunday evening quiz, TED Talk Thursdays and Daily Challenges. Daily posts of animals, music, puzzles, information, support and services provide plenty of regular connection for those in the group
Social media isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it offers a space to touch base and interact
Low Cost Counselling
In partnership with Reclaim
We are working with Reclaim to ensure affordable counselling is available for anyone in the North Somerset area struggling with lockdown, isolation and mental health. Drop us an email at admin@weareaware.info for more details
Happy Mondays Zoom
A social check-in and catch up
Happy Mondays is about providing a start point to the week. A chance for people to engage socially in a safe group. Even though lockdown has eased, many still have health concerns, mobility issues, anxieties or no transport. This is a friendly chance to touch base, offload if need be, and start the week with a brighter outlook
Strawberry Line Cycling
Cycle Minded sessions run by the Strawberry Line Cycle Project
Several from our We Are Aware community have accessed the funded cycling sessions.
The benefits have been amazing- some building confidence having not ridden since being a child, others rediscovering cycling in a safe and accessible way with the range of bikes available to hire, and the nature of the cycle path
Weekly Facebook Quiz
A Peer led quiz
Following Becci's 100 recorded weekly quizzes through lockdown to keep people connected (including guest appearance by Nick Knowles- thanks Nick!), one of our peer community has kindly agreed to keep the weekly quiz going as a Facebook event
Goblin Combe Adventures
Community Learning
An outdoor course of skills, confidence building and relaxation
A group from We Are Aware have been attending the North Somerset Council funded Goblin Combe course.
The group, led by the knowledgeable Alice, runs for 5 weeks.
It shares outdoor skills and information such as tree and plant identification. It also helps build resilience, confidence and provides a massively beneficial break from society and it's stigmas.
This is a chance for individuals to enjoy the weather, nature, each others company and appreciate their own abilities and gain some new skills.
We hope to run another group again in the future.
Day trip to Westonbirt Arboretum
A great day out appreciating the magical colours of autumn
A We Are Aware trip to Westonbirt Arboretum. A group of 16 enjoyed a perfect autumn day with blue skies, colourful leaves and lush green grass.
Nature is so important for grounding and gaining perspective. The ages and sizes of some of the trees, together with some of the delicate foliage showing the awesome power of nature.
Post lockdown getting out to places is still a challenge for many. Some still find public transport anxiety provoking, others cannot afford the costs. A supported trip with familiar faces can be so much more accessible.
A huge thank you to Westonbirt for accommodating us, and for Yeo Valley Lions for transporting our group to and from the arboretum safely.
At Play in the Woods
Through lockdown and beyond!
The pandemic and lockdown have put strain on everyone. For those already struggling with mental health issues, it has been particularly hard. Most support services retreated to Zoom leaving some with lived experience feeling they were being “kept at arm’s length” by those funded to support them.
We Are Aware have worked throughout the pandemic to provide what support we can within government guidelines. The exemption provision for support groups allowed us to run Walk and Talk groups at three locations and a socially distanced in-person Peer Support Group (and an online option for those shielding).
We took our support group out into nature thanks to At Play in the Woods and with the support of Nailsea Community Transport’s socially distanced minibus. This was a chance for those struggling just to immerse themselves in the great outdoors- the sunshine, wind in the trees, birdsong, smoke from the camp fire, muddy ground beneath feet. Still respecting social distancing rules, and with plenty of fresh air, this was such a transformative day for those that attended. Many had to overcome their own growing lockdown anxieties just to take part, but all found the day beneficial
“The We Are Aware team made us feel safe and supported throughout the day. It was so great to be outside and away from everything”
“I haven’t been out of Clevedon in 12 months!”
“Thank you so much for arranging this. This is the best time I’ve had in such a long time. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much”
“I feel like a 5-year-old again!”
A huge thank you to Sam Harrison from At Play in the Woods making it such a great, Covid safe session.
We Are Aware are working with other local projects to provide more opportunities to support those struggling to reconnect with the outside world.
...and its becoming a tradition
Following the success of last year's session in Chelvey, we returned again in 2022- with the support of Yeo Valley Lions minibus and the excellent hosting from Sam.
Another great session in the woods taking in an Easter Egg hunt as well as the usual camp fire and marshmallows
Another Awesome Day in the Woods
Another great session at the Outdoor College Tickenham. Nature; Meadow-tation; Yoga in the trees; camp fire; Homemade and baked wild garlic bread; homemade soup; whittling and great conversations.
Outing to Exmouth
Lockdown was a difficult time for all. Some found it harder than others and some found it more restrictive. For many with long term mental health conditions, financial pressures, anxieties about restrictions and public transport and often a lack of present family unit for support a break was more important than ever. Thanks to donations from the Clevedon Lions and Mike Anderson, we were able to take a group of 18, socially distanced on a Baker Dolphin day out to Exmouth in September 2021. We left a rainy grey Clevedon and travelled down to a murky, misty Exmouth.
Apart from a sharp 1pm shower, the weather brightened to a sunny afternoon.
Fish n Chips and ice cream were very popular- as was the pirate golf, land train and 4 adventurous souls even went for a swim in the sea- creatiing an image that was referenced as summing up what We Are Aware represents...
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