We were honoured to welcome senior leaders from Dorset’s health services to our Access Wellbeing Hub in Poole. This included chief executives from Dorset HealthCare and Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, as well as Dr Phil Morgan, Head of Nursing, Therapies and Quality for Mental Health. Their visit was an opportunity to demonstrate how Access Wellbeing plays a unique role in early intervention, wellbeing promotion, and community-based support. The conversations were open, honest, and grounded in our shared mission to improve lives. It was also a chance to highlight stories of impact showing how real people benefit when services work in tandem. By bridging the gap between communities and statutory systems, we’re able to reach people earlier, with warmth and empathy at the centre of everything we do.
We also hosted a community drop-in on 15 May, inviting local residents to learn more about the free mental health support available. The atmosphere was friendly and informal, with warm drinks on offer and staff on hand to chat with attendees, answer questions, and share printed resources. What stood out most was how many people simply appreciated the space to talk and be heard. From first-time visitors to those already familiar with our work, it was a meaningful reminder that access to mental health support doesn’t always have to start with a referral; sometimes it begins with a conversation and a cup of tea.
To end the week on a high (and very cold) note, our brilliant team at the Access Wellbeing Poole Hub took on an Ice Bucket Challenge in support of mental health awareness. Cheered on by colleagues, they braved the chill with laughter and big smiles, turning what could have been just another workday into a moment of solidarity and fun.
In true community spirit, they also nominated the entire Help & Care senior leadership team to take part. It was a great way to bring visibility to mental health in a light-hearted, engaging way, while still holding space for an important message: that supporting mental health can start with simple, shared actions that bring people together.
Thank you to everyone who joined us during the week. Whether you visited the Hub, joined in the fun, or shared our posts, you helped put community at the heart of the conversation.
