VCSE Power showcase: Wakefield

Postcards From Wakefield 

What are Postcards from Wakefield? 

The Postcard idea originated from the USA and was aimed at breaking down barriers and reducing stigma around an area that had a bad reputation.  We adapted the idea to reduce barriers and stigma around talking about mental health.

What is the Positive Mental Health Network?  

We are a group of people committed to helping those with mental health challenges get the best support possible.  We promote prevention, self-help, and promote the groups/organisations in Wakefield that can help people to improve their mental health or maintain good mental health.

What do we have to do? 

Simply write, colour, draw, create a postcard – it can be anything – but must be positive/kind.  Keep it for yourself, give it away or return to any Council Library.  If you belong to a group, why not ask them to create some too. 

What happens to them?  

They will be displayed around the district for other people to see.  They will also be showcased at an Art Walk, so please be mindful of privacy.  We will also share examples on our Facebook page ‘Postcards from Wakefield’.

Examples from the past – we’ve had hundreds of cards including musical postcards, some included photographs, several people wrote poems, and some had beautiful pictures using sewing machines, fabric and buttons – be as creative as you like

Contact the Positive Mental Health Network at:   pmhnwakefield@gmail.com

Postcards from Wakefield 

During national mental health week in May 2022 the Postcards from Wakefield team spoke to the owner of this dog for about half an hour.  The owner said she had nothing positive to say and couldn’t think of one positive thing.  After we chatted a while, I saw her bag move and was surprised she had a little dog in there.  We got chatting and she said she loved her dog and would be lost without it then went on to tell me how it enriched her life and we both smiled and agreed that was something positive.  We spoke about how important animals are for our wellbeing. This lady simply enjoyed having someone to talk to – she said she didn’t want to write a postcard but I could take a picture of her dog and write one for her.

One of the team spoke at length to an older lady and her daughter, both disabled and using mobility scooters.  They said they had been bullied all their lives and that they were lonely and isolated at times. The daughter in particular had special needs and ‘local kids’ throw stones at her.  About half an hour after we spoke they both returned to show me a shopping bag they had bought. It read ‘Be Kind’ which is what one of the pair wrote on her postcard.  So sad, but lovely they came back to show me what they had bought

Three of the team – all from Reflections House in Castleford.  They did a superb job getting the most amount of postcards in a day Wakefield has ever seen when they were in the local market. This is part of their own recovery journey – they are all in recovery from addiction.

For its fouth year the 2022 design aimed to support those in Ukraine, as well as locally.  Three stands were held – at Wakefield City retail centre Trinity Walk, Xscape Glasshoughton and Castleford Market. Teams from across the voluntary/ community sector came together to run the stands and engage people with what the postcards are about.

Over the week many postcards were completed; ten thousand have been printed and continue to be used throughout the year. Galas, fun days, community days, libraries, craft groups and more have and will continue to feature them. Below are photos of many events and postcards – libraries have blank cards and can take in completed cards. Why not join in – cards have arrived from as far afield as the USA during the year. Postcards from Wakefield is now a fixed event in the calendar and serves to improve everyone’s wellbeing.

Run by Wakefield Positive Mental Health Network (PHMN) the Postcards have developed year on year, as has the network. Now with over 200 members representing nearly 70 organisations the network’s logo – Wakefield district in a head – is reflected in newsletters, on the Postcards and more. Every fortnight the PHMN produces a newsletter which is emailed out and contains contributions about positive steps, courses, offers, exhibitions and more that can be accessed locally.

Other projects include ‘postive parcels’ of crafts, essential items and more. These were first produced for Christmas 2021 with items contributed from Lush and other local companies. Already at work are the logistics of collecting items for the 2022 parcel – Fox’s biscuits and Yorkshire Tea have contributed so far – and the PHMN team are hard at work getting things ready for this year.

Now in its 4th year, the postcard project started in 2019 to encourage people to be more open about their mental health, thus reducing the stigma around it. People can write or draw anything on the postcards to give themself or someone else hope.

Tracy Leach and others were inspired by a project in America which mailed positive messages on postcards to local homes. 

Since 2019, the Positive Mental Health Network (PMHN) have run this project to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.

This year’s theme is loneliness and how it impacts mental health. 1 in 4 adults are impacted by negative mental health issues in their lifetime

2022 Design

At its centre is the PMHN logo, which showcases important landmarks and local icons in Wakefield. This was designed by a Spectrum People art therapist specifically for the network. 

Blue and Yellow has been used to show Wakefield’s support for Ukraine in this difficult time. “Wakefield” is a part of last year’s design, displaying an illustrated map of Wakefield District.

Anyone wanting supplies of postcards to complete can get these from their local library in the district. 

Stalls Giving Support 

Throughout mental health awareness week, organisations from the PMHN worked together on stalls at Trinity Walk, Junction 32, and Castleford Market.

Volunteers talked with members of the public about mental health, loneliness, what improves their mental health, and their life experiences.

Positive experiences include: Eric and his dog, Poppy, came by the Junction 32 stall to give volunteers a hot drink.

A member of the public being inspired to buy a bag with the words “be kind” after talking with us at Trinity Walk.

The Postcards have been a success again this year, showing the importance of sharing experiences and support in our community. Completed postcards can be dropped off in local libraries.

Spectrum People

Art Therapy (displayed in Wakefield The Ridings Centre)

Art Therapy. Art Walk

Open Country Partnership for Spectrum People

Evaluation and Feedback of Healthy Happy Holidays (HHH)

Find a Service 

Wakefield Wellbeing Health and Support These services are split into 5 seperate posters and are being put up at Fitzwilliam Station, where Northern Rail and Friends of Fitzwilliam work with Spectrum People and artists to get art installations up. This will happen October 20th. 

Wakefield Wellbeing Health and Support, LGBTQ+ Support

Positive Mental Health Network 

·      Our 200+ members, help to reduce the stigma around mental health, share good practice, network, and aim to reduce suicide rates

·      We feed issues/comments and concerns to the Wakefield Mental Health Alliance

·      Postcards from Wakefield is run by the network, and in its 4^th year.  The postcards are designed to get people thinking, talking, and sharing positive messages.

·      We hold meetings where our members can get to know each other

·      We have regular newsletters for our members, and the public

·      We have made a useful list of mental health support services, available online at Adult mental health support - Wakefield Council

·      Find out more by emailing tleach@wakefield.gov.uk ​​​​​​​

Positive Mental Health Network, Power Point Presentation