May 2024
Harmony has been a vital part of Bridport’s wellbeing support network for almost a decade, providing group sessions and individual care for anyone who needs help with their mental health.
Harmony provides mental health support in two main ways. The daytime drop-in sessions offer a safe, social space for anyone who needs it, with optional activities such as arts and crafts, yoga, or gardening at the charity’s allotment by Bridport Community Orchard. There’s no referral or booking system, just a friendly welcome from Harmony volunteers, along with a hot drink and biscuits and a chance to chat and join in as much, or as little, as visitors feel like.
These sessions, which have space for up to 25 people, are held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 1pm at Harmony, plus 11am to 1pm most Tuesdays at the allotment (weather permitting). There’s also MENtal Health, a men’s walking group, on Tuesday afternoons, and Pilates on Monday afternoons (these two activities are free but it’s a good idea to call beforehand to check availability – details are online).
“Our drop-ins are an early intervention tactic, a way of catching emotional needs early, when people are feeling a bit wobbly,” says Carrie Gamble, Harmony CEO. “We want to reduce isolation and make people feel part of a community. Loneliness is often a precursor to mental health issues – admitting ‘I’m lonely’ is a big step, but once someone’s taken it, they’ve started on the path to increased self-esteem and reduced anxiety.
“We have about 100 people on our books for the drop-ins, although not everyone comes regularly. Many have established a strong social network through Harmony, which is enormously helpful in supporting wellbeing.”
Safe harbour in a storm
Harmony’s other regular offer is the Community Front Room (CFR), an NHS-commissioned service providing one-to-one support from qualified staff for anyone facing a mental health crisis. It runs from 2.15 to 9.45pm, Thursday to Sunday, and between 12 and 15 people visit over a typical session, although there’s capacity for 19. As the testimonials on Harmony’s website prove, this service is a literal lifesaver.
“CFR is for people who’ve reached crisis point – they need help to stay safe tonight,” says Carrie. “People will sometimes come back several times in an evening to talk if they’re really struggling. They get help from our qualified staff, who are from different walks of life and come to us through different routes: at the moment they include a mental health practitioner and a mental health nurse, plus two peer specialists with lived experience.”
Harmony’s CFR is part of a network of similar facilities in the region – the others are at Wareham, Weymouth, Shaftesbury and Bournemouth University. People often visit Harmony from outside Bridport, however – even if they live nearer one of the other CFRs – so they can be anonymous. They can also attend by video call or phone if they can’t get to the centre.
A bright future
The charity is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an exciting upgrade: at the end of May it will be moving just a couple of hundred metres from its current building, the Assembly Rooms on Gundry Lane, to larger premises on St Michael’s Trading Estate.
“We’ve outgrown this building and we need more space,” says Rachel Coney, Chair of Trustees. “There’s no disabled access, which we absolutely should have, and we need a more flexible layout. The new Harmony Centre, as it’ll be called, will also give us more confidential space for private one-to-one sessions, and more office space so all our staff will be able to work there, rather than at home.”
Harmony has secured a grant of £365,000 over five years from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities England programme. This is funding the restructure that accompanies the move – including the appointment of a full-time operations manager and a part-time administrator last October – and help the charity to deliver foundation systems and processes. Funding also comes from the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation and the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Foundation, as well as smaller grants from Bridport Town Council and donations from local businesses and individuals.
“These are significant sums of money, and we need to give our funders confidence,” says Rachel. “We’re working hard to prove that we’re a mature organisation with good controls.”
The Lottery money won’t, however, cover the refurbishment of the building, and Harmony has launched a Crowdfunder appeal to ask the local community to help with this additional £6,000.
Want to get involved?
Harmony always needs more volunteers – people to help at the drop-in, meet and greet, make tea, chat to people while they’re waiting – and currently has vacancies for paid staff, too. The paid positions include bank staff for the CFR to cover holidays and other absence. “Our CFR shifts are eight hours, but staff don’t need to commit to doing the whole shift,” says Carrie. We’re a friendly, skilled team, and we offer training where we can. We hope people will come forward – it’s very rewarding.”
www.theharmonycentre.org.uk and on Facebook.