MHNE News

MHNE will be closing at the end of December 2023

MHNE is closing it's doors for good at the end of this month. We will be producing the December bulletin and Help Guide as normal. Whilst MHNE is closing, many of our team members will continue to work in the sector – either in a voluntary or paid capacity in other organisations. We are very pleased to have chosen an organisation to inherit any of MHNE's remaining assets. We chose this organisation as it is service user and carer led and shares the same values.

MHNE attend Gateshead Service User forum

Next week MHNE team member Victoria will be at the Gateshead Service User Forum presenting an update on Gateshead Active (the re-opening of Gateshead Leisure Centre) and Mental Health North East (closing the charity and legacy actvity including 'Better Times Ahead?' conference report and film).

The session will be 12.30pm – 2pm on Tuesday 14th November (may be moved to Teams due to the bus strikes, although in-person meetings take place at Gateshead Learning Skills, Gateshead Interchange).

If you would like to join the meeting, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gateshead Service User Forum supports people who live in the Gateshead area who have accessed, or are currently accessing, services provided by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW). The forum is supported to run by people connected with Gateshead mental health services, this may be workers or people with lived mental health experience. They aim to help make services better and share information.

For more information on the Gateshead Service User Forum see: https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/resource-library/gateshead-service-user-forum-information-leaflet-and-poster/

MHNE short film "Better Times Ahead?"

Here's a link to our new "Better Times Ahead?" short film shown at the conference on June 16th 2023, which was made to record and celebrate the work of all the MHNE team - friends, members and volunteers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP140zBxKc0

Thanks to Alex Ayre and his team the Tyneside Cinema for production, which began before the pandemic!

Launch of MHNE’s Final Report "Better Times Ahead?"

The report from our closing conference “Better Times Ahead?” attempts to capture proposals for improving mental health from the broad range of organisations and individuals present on the day.

It also serves as a record of our achievements and thanks our multitude of volunteers for their efforts over the years.

The report was published in time for World Mental Health Day 10th October with printed copies being sent to decision makers and commissioners. You can view or download the "Better Times Ahead?" report here.

Slides from MHNE "Better Times Ahead?" Conference 16th June 2023

Here are speakers' slides from our Better Times Ahead? conference held Friday 16th June 2023.

• Alice Wiseman - Director of Public Health Gateshead Council
• Francesca Smith - Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

Francesca asked if we could share details of how to get involved with the Money and Mental Health Research Community - the link to sign up and find out more is here: https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/community/

A link to MHNE's Better Times Ahead? video, produced with the Tyneside Cinema : https://youtube.com/watch?v=pP140zBxKc0

And slides with quotes from our guests about why Better Times Ahead?

MHNE ‘Better Times Ahead?’ Conference 16th June [registrations open]

The ‘Better Times Ahead?’ Conference is being hosted by MHNE at Stanley Civic Hall, Co Durham on 16th June 2023, from 10am-3.30pm.

Confirmed speakers include Alice Wiseman (Director of Public Health for Gateshead), Francesca Smith from Martin Lewis's Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, and Kevan Jones, Member of Parliament for North Durham.

An important element of this conference will be to bring people together from all parts of the mental health sector, including people with lived experience, to look at how services can be improved. A report of the conference findings will be compiled as instead of merely shouting for things to get better, MHNE wants to offer practical solutions to the people who have the power to implement change.

The conference wants to celebrate good services and the valuable contribution of the voluntary sector, so there will be stalls, entertainment, a raffle with prizes and opportunities to network. Workshops and a question time session will allow everyone who attends to have their say.

You can register to attend by downloading this form (.docx) and returning to us by email.  Please get in touch if you have any problems with the form.

There is limited remaining space for stalls/stands - if you would like to request space for one please fill in this stall booking request form to return by email.

Please note, while places are strictly limited, attending the conference and stall bookings are free of charge.

We grateful to local timber specialist MH Southern for their fundraising which has made this event possible.

If you have any questions, please contact MHNE Administrator Rose Renton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Workshops on the day include:

• Working together to create a better service (two groups)
• Service User Involvement in decision making and service delivery
• Recognising the obstacles to improving service delivery and enabling change
• Carrying on MHNE’s legacy – Service Users & Carers

Travelling to Stanley by Bus

Direct buses to Stanley (Derwentside):
From Newcastle city centre the X30/X31.
From Durham city centre the 16/16A.

For more public transport options, you can plan your journey to Stanley on Durham Council's Journey planner website:

https://durhamcc-lts.trapezegroupazure.co.uk/journey-planner

or Nexus Tyne and Wear journey planner:

https://www.nexus.org.uk/jplanner

MHNE mourn the loss of our Chairperson Neil Kelly

We are very sad to announce the death of our Chairperson, Neil Kelly. As a founder member of MHNE Neil worked tirelessly for our organisation right to the end. A 'gentleman' in the best sense of the word, Neil is utterly irreplaceable. Our thoughts are with his family.

Neil's funeral was held at Sunderland Crematorium on Thursday 24^th November 2022. Donations to Mental Health North East totalling over £400 have been made in Neil's memory and we'd like to thank everyone who has contributed.

To read a tribute to Neil from our CEO Lyn boyd please see the front page of our November bulletin: http://mhne.org.uk/images/Documents/MHNE_e-bulletins/MHNE_Bulletin_November_2022_final.pdf

Intergenerational Garden Opening held in Stanley

Launch of the Hollie Hill garden project and celebration of the wonderful work of everyone involved was held August 18th at the Burnside Family Centre, part of Cragside Development Trust, South Stanley.

Funded by Stanley Area Partnership this project has proved to be a great success with all ages coming together, supported by Mental Health North East, to build a lovely space where residents can sit and enjoy.

There was a big thank you to the preschool children at the Trusts Day Nursery Craghead Childcare Centre and the young people of the youth club at the Trusts Family Centre in South Stanley. A special thank you was also said to Roy the local gardener (Muddy Boots, Northern Aspects Landscaping) who was especially patient with the children, and to the Hollie Hill residents for their contribution.

With the funding received from Stanley AAP it was also possible to create a small outside play area for the Nursery children when they visit the home.

Read the Latest MHNE Bulletin July 2022

It's time to read our July 2022 e-Bulletin with updates from us and a variety of news and articles relevant to the North East of England mental health sector.

Read the full bulletin here: MHNE_Bulletin_July_2022_Final_sml.pdf

Submissions or content suggestions for future bulletins from your group or organisation are welcome. You can contact us here.