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Peter Hirst

Peter Hirst

My biggest passion is to give people as many options as possible when faced with mental health challenges whether they are the carer, relative, friend or patient. The ‘Yellow Book’ succeeded in reaching so many people in very differing ways so I am very happy to be running ‘rethinkyourmind’ again. I felt very privileged to receive the Laing & Buisson Independent Specialist Care Award for ‘Service Excellence’ in 2013 for the work with this project.

 

Music plays a huge part in my life as a musician, songwriter and lead singer of ‘Refuge’ – an acoustic band made up of 3 members: myself, Sam Munton on bass and Phil Seaman on lead guitar. The latest album ‘Time Together’ and new single ‘Reflections’ were played by BBC Introducing with positive feedback from the Head of Music at BBC Radio Two. Although I am the only one with mental health challenges, my fellow band members have always been supportive of the projects we have created around mental health issues.

 

During my early 20’s I had a number of admissions into hospital before being diagnosed with bipolar.  When I came out of hospital, support around finding work was very limited with a few voluntary placements or a massive leap back into the workplace.  Fortunately, I was introduced to SISO, an organisation that provides another option by offering a support setup with regular therapist meetings. All their work is around wellbeing which empowers its Development Workers to take control of their own recovery. I was given a job, a laptop a phone and a small wage but most importantly a purpose and an opportunity to feel safe and supported. I felt empowered to take control of my own life and move forward to help others by creating projects around mental health:

 

Allowed a Voice (2010): a ‘Refuge’ album that incorporated music & poetry by SISO members to break down mental health related stigma, featured on ITV News. Support signposting was included in the album sleeve.

 

Open Minds (2011): National competition that involved mental health charities & 11 NHS Trusts. We produced an EP for download from submitted art & poems, selected by artists including: Jean Binta Breeze MBE.

 

‘rethinkyourmind’ & the ‘Yellow Book’ (2012): a national competition, partnered by mental health charities & 38 NHS Trusts, inviting entries of art & poetry inspired by the sentence: ‘With good mental health I have..’  We assembled 2 assessor panels; developed an online resource, released a downloadable single selected from entries & designed a book with 8,800 free copies distributed nationally. The Project was endorsed by, amongst others, Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, The Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, NHS Confederation & tweets from Stephen Fry.

 

Next Launch for: www.rethinkyourmind.co.uk  starts on 14 November 2014

 

These projects were nominated for 4 national Laing & Buisson Independent Specialist Care Awards: ‘Personality of the Year’ (2011) ‘Innovation’ (2012 & 2013), ‘Outstanding Contribution’ (2013) Winning ‘Service Excellence’ (2013)

 

‘Refuge’ is currently working on a project called ‘Moving InWards’ which has been funded by the Arts Council England and supported by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.  Our aim is to make music an everyday feature on mental health hospital wards. We have created music workshops and taken these on the wards, feedback has been very positive. Through this project we are also being mentored on our music by Mark Morriss, former lead singer of The Bluetones and Gaz Birtles, formerly of The Beautiful South. The project will culminate in 2015 with the release of an EP, all proceeds from which will be used towards the continuation of this project beyond its current funding.

www.movinginwards.co.uk

 

2014 has proved to be a year of positive change for me and I am very happy to be moving on independently with joint ownership of: Develop-Insite CIC. This means that I will be involved in the continued growth and development of all these projects and the facilitation of many more. I extend my deepest gratitude to my family, friends and colleagues that have supported me in my role and on my journey. 

 

Thank you for being a part of this project and for your interest & support. 

 

“Music produce a kind of pleasure that human nature cannot do without” – Confucius

  

Sam on bass         Pete on lead vocals       Phil on lead guitar

 

 

Claire Ramsbotham

Claire Ramsbotham

My career was originally focused within the service industry, in the hotel sector on bustling reception desks.  I have always enjoyed the variety of working with the Public and thrived on the multitasking skills demanded from this role.

 

From hotels I moved into the world of travel and at aged 23, I moved into an Office Manager role, leading a team of 9. My skill base was significantly widened as a result of this promotion and apart from the day to day administration roles, I learned a lot in the areas of H.R, database management and leadership.

 

In 1995, I decided to learn the family business and joined Mark David Enterprises Ltd, the UK Distributor of a leading German kitchen brand: Nolte Kuechen.  My roles have been many and varied and through the years, I have moved from order checking to Office Manager and finally to Operations Director. Within the past 19 years, I have created and executed many projects including: training programmes, websites, marketing campaigns, exhibition stands, showroom launches & events.  I have been a Council member on the National Training Group for the KBB industry, heading up the marketing steer group. The essence of my day to day work is to ensure our entire operation runs smoothly and to trouble shoot when it doesn’t. At our peak, the business turnover was £5M, we employed 15 staff, owned 2 kitchen showrooms and serviced over 100 stockists nationwide and in Ireland. I am also the financial controller for the company and have used Pegasus software and now Sage software within this role. Recent times have brought many significant changes for our business model and as we have downsized, the opportunity for me to develop my own business has emerged.

 

In 2013, I developed my personal interest in the practise of mindfulness and meditation to the next level by qualifying as a Coach. In 2014, I opened The Centre of Wellbeing which is an information Centre for all aspects of wellbeing and the home to a number of classes (including mindfulness classes that I coach), seminars and workshops.

 

In June 2014, my passion for wellbeing led me to a 5 day Intensive where I met Pete Hirst, the creator of ‘rethinkyourmind’.  We realised we had many common goals and that our shared vision was centred in the empowerment of the individual through education & signposting to available options. In September 2014, we registered our Community Interest Company: Develop-Insite CIC and we are now fully operational. This CIC enables us to facilitate projects that focus on positive mental health like ‘rethinkyourmind’ and we are very excited to be launching this project so soon after our conception.

 

I believe that we never stop growing and learning and I am very passionate about facilitating projects and providing a safe space for people to explore the options, learn from the experiences and grow positively towards their own personal empowerment.

 

Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day!

 

Claire Ramsbotham

I am only one, but still I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what I can do.

 

 

Linkedin http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/claire-ramsbotham/2a/a9a/8b/

 

Prizes

Prizes

48 selected entrants will have their work published in ‘The Yellow Book’

  • receiving a comemmorative copy of the The Yellow Book.

12 of these selected entrants will also receive:

  • an ipad air! 
  • their work will appear on the music singles as either the lyrics to the song (on the a side), a poem read aloud (on the b-side), or the cover artwork. 

All 48 selected entrants are invited to a guest presentation at the House of Lords in 2015 hosted by Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE

 

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 The House of Lords. Image © Josey Grimshaw 2012

 

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Ann Crisp

Ann Crisp

Leicester

 

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Ann collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

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Selected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4

Jessie

Jessie

 

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Jessie collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

 altSelected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more

 

 

 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4

Mair Eleri Davies

Mair Eleri Davies

Pontardawe

 

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Mair collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide  

 

altSelected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more 

 

 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4

Nicola

Nicola

Lincoln

 

i

 

Nicola collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

altSelected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more 

 

 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4

Perri Tune

Perri Tune

Leicester

 

perri

 

Perri collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide  

 

altSelected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more 

 

 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4

Simon Cross

Simon Cross

Dorset

 

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Simon collects a handmade hardback book

He will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

His work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

altSelected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more 

 

 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4

Jodie Thomson

Jodie Thomson

Hertfordshire

 

d

 

Jodie collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide  

 

altSelected Art/Photography entries please click the images below to view more 

 

 

 10  21
14 8 3 2
20 17 6 23
22 5 7 1
18 16 13 12
19 15 9 4