Since 2017, Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation has been providing a one-to-one service to those in the community who would otherwise have limited or restricted access to mental health services.
As it prepares to mark its eighth anniversary, the organisation is planning a fun day out for all the family when it hosts the Arthur Ellis Summer Festival.
Arthur Ellis, which was launched as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and earlier this year became a registered charity, is bringing together over 20 organisations and partnering with five other charities to make the event possible.
Around 5,000 people from across Milton Keynes and surrounding areas are invited to bring their families and enjoy some incredible activities and food at Great Linford Manor Park on Sunday August 25. The event is sponsored by Brioche Pasquier, Milton Keynes Community Foundation and John Lewis and Partners, and supported by partners MKFM, The Parks Trust and Social Society.
The festival, which opens at noon, will have five different zones, each focusing on an element of our wellbeing. The zones are Move, Focus, Discover, Communicate and Help. Each zone will have a variety of activities that the whole family can enjoy.
There will be table tennis, run by Table Tennis England; patisserie decorating with desserts provided by Brioche Pasquier; football by MK Dons SET, as well as a science experiments, yoga, tai chi, team building games, arts and crafts and lots more.
Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation provides help for people of any age from eight years upwards. The team has built a new independent referral system which will transfer the power to the individual when booking their first session with one of the Arthur Ellis mentors. The charity already boasts a ‘no waiting lists, no thresholds’ policy which it upholds across all 27 GP surgeries it works with.
The system has been working to get clients into their first session within two weeks of referral and provides them with the opportunity to book there and then.
Jon Manning, Founder and Chairman of the Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation, said:
“A big part of improving our wellbeing is taking a look at how we are spending our time. Are we living in a way that makes us unhealthy? Do we have enough in our lives that makes it fulfilling?
“Education, engagement and enthusiasm can be built into wellbeing by just having fun.
“That’s what the event is all about, just having fun. That’s why we have worked hard to bring together an event that offers only free activities, things that we know are great for different aspects of our wellbeing and that can be taken on by anyone of any age or skill level.”
The Arthur Ellis Summer Festival is at Great Linford Manor Park on Sunday August 25 from midday to 5pm.
Volunteers are required to help on the day of the Summer Festival. Visit the sign up form.
To find out more about Arthur Ellis and the work the charity does across the community, visit Arthur Ellis or find more on LinkedIn.
