Groups & Activities


What's On

A timetable of where you can join in

  • Facebook Isolation Group- for anyone in North Somerset
  • Weekly Facebook Quiz
  • Happy Mondays Zoom- Mondays
  • Thinking Out Loud - Wednesdays
  • Thinking Out Loud- Thursdays
  • Thinking Out Loud via Zoom- Thursdays
  • Additional Peer Support Groups
  • Twice Monthly Gardening Project
  • Weekly Walk & Talks - Fridays
  • Tai Chi- Coming back soon- by popular demand
  • Yoga- fortnightly Saturdays
  • Peer/Self Advocacy Group
  • Other additional groups, trips and outings added- WATCH THIS SPACE


Garden Space Project

We were approached by several of our peers after another community garden project closed wanting a safe, supportive gardening project. Thanks to Kenn Lunch Club, Scotch Horn Leisure and North Somerset Council, we now have an amazing serene and relaxing garden space. A space for those looking to plant, grow, weed, fix and build, but also a place to be in nature, relax and ground.



  Walk&Talk Sessions Still Proving Popular! 

Walks every Friday - Backwell, Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead


If you are interested contact us!


"...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 can be huge factors in mental health.

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

Thinking Out Loud

In September 2020 we began a pilot peer support group in partnership with Clarity-IMHN. 

The pilot scheme proved incredibly popular in the unusual times- with some amazing feedback from those in need of face-to-face support and connection.

Demand for the group was such that we have continued the group after the pilot was complete thanks to Quartet Community Foundation. We have put our Peer Support Groups under the banner Thinking Out Loud to distinguish them from other "peer support" set ups. Ours are professionally facilitated peer sessions. The content, format and topics are all peer driven, in a safe and supported environment. Sessions include interactive thought-provoking discussions; Games sessions- providing a focus and connection to make conversation less confronting and more accessible for those that may struggle in a more formal discussion; Craft sessions- again providing a creative focus whilst provoking conversation and connection; Cafe sessions- to encourage peer connections in a safe and supportive space.

Sessions take place at Clevedon and Nailsea with occasional sessions in Portishead and Yatton

If you are interested in joining our Thinking Out Loud Groups please contact us through the contact page or at admin@weareaware.info 


Yoga

Following the success of our Fit For Purpose programme, by popular demand we have continued our Yoga groups.

Many felt approaching new classes can be too daunting- not know the set-up: do I pay before or after? Where do I stand? Does everyone have a regular space? What if I can manage the moves?

Exactly for these reasons we set about inviting external therapists and instructors into a We Are Aware space. Thus the peers at least have the familiarity of the surroundings and those around them. This has worked really well to bridge the gap to make venturing into other groups easier.

Yoga provides gentle exercise and easy movements to build core strength and wellbeing

Journaling+

  Thanks to the support of the Allen Lane Foundation we have begun exploring a Journaling+ session. We are lucky to have some very accomplished- and published- writers within our We Are Aware Peer Community, but we have also been conscious of those too daunted by the prospect of creative writing- many commenting that the blank page can be intimidating to know where to start, how to fill it, and if what is written will be good enough.

Acknowledging this and wanting to inspire more within our community to write, whilst giving the existing writers some lateral food for thought, we have taken things back to a pen and paper as the start point, to explore doodling for distraction and refocusing, diarising, bullet points, lists, language, self-expression, as well as written exercises to prompt, inspire and make it easier to put pen to paper.

Aware Book Club



A social, supportive peer group sharing opinions and thoughts on a variety of literature.

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." 

Peer/Self-Advocacy

We are working in partnership with The Advocacy People (the local providers of statutory advocacy services in North Somerset) to provide support, information, signposting and empowerment for peers to feel able to advocate for themselves, but also support each other. For someone experiencing anxieties, low mood, lack of energy, lack of self-worth sometimes advocating for yourself can feel too confronting and too challenging. Feelings of judgement and lack of worth can put an individual at a massive disadvantage when trying to lack legitimate points. We want individuals to feel they can ensure their voice is heard

We Are Aware Isolation Support Group  Facebook

A social media peer support group to keep individuals connected . 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 conversation 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

We are working with BACP qualified counsellors to ensure affordable counselling is available for anyone in the We Are Aware peer community. 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. Many services are only available Monday to Friday, making the weekend a challenging and isolating time for some. Happy Mondays is a gentle, social group to check-in and offload post-weekend in a safe and supportive space.

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


Trips & Outings

We are aware that many living with mental health can be limited in so many ways.

Facing repeated assessment and judgement from services can compound anxieties and crush self-worth.

Chaotic and traumatic backgrounds can lead to limited social networks of support.

Trying new things and going to new places can heighten anxieties.

We work to create opportunities that are accessible and encouraging to build a sense of community and build connections.

We work to provide a range of one off tasters, outings and events to pave a way to progression and development; for individuals to create positive memories and camaraderie.

We want to make other activities and opportunities feel achievable.

We want progress and control to be within the grasp of those we support to feel able to successfully shape their future.