Community Development
Working within local communities to improve mental health service provision and access
Embedding in local communities
A core element of the Alliance’s impact is the work of our Community Mental Health Development Leads (CDLs). Based within each of our 4 localities, the CDLs focus on strengthening communities to better meet the mental health needs of their local population. This can be through facilitating training to help organisations be better equipped, starting new collaborative projects to fill identified gaps in services, networking and building relationships with local mental health stakeholders, or even working to break down barriers in the system between services.
Some of our Community Development Leads from across the 4 localities within Devon
The reach we’re having — headline numbers
750+
individuals attended listening and networking events in our first year
£21.3k
awarded to local organisations through our Innovation Fund
51+
organisations given training in areas such as trauma and crisis
300+
organisations engaged in local community listening and networking events
Latest Community Development updates
Choose a locality below to see the latest updates in your area.
We’re putting on an exhibition in the summer, and we want you to be a part of it!
How a grant from our Innovation Fund has helped to reduce anxiety in young people in Northern Devon.
Stuart Young gives us an insight into the popularity of men’s and women’s wellbeing in the woods groups since accessing the Devon Mental Health Alliance Innovation Fund in 2023.
Recovery Practitioners in Northern Devon are now signposting clients from various referral sources to the project.
Our collaboration with Recovery Devon in supporting two North Devon organisations demonstrates our shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes in the area.
The project aims to provide a space for men to take a break from their everyday lives, connect with nature, and build supportive relationships.
The aim of the meeting was to provide a space for professionals to connect, share information, and collaborate on ways to improve mental health support in the area.
The purpose of the project is to give veterans a space to develop useful skills and confidence through a connection with nature, and being with others who have been through similar experiences to them.
Alliance funding will help the well-established surf school deliver lessons to carers in the Northern Devon area.
Catherine from the Mid Devon-based CIC provides an update on their work with young people throughout 2023.
A small grant from our very own innovation fund is helping Aynsley Jones with supporting Cranbrook residents through an innovative project.
With the help of a small grant from our Innovation Fund, Headway has been able to help even more people develop confidence and wellbeing.
Tor Support services provide counselling for children and young people up to the age of 25 in the Okehampton area.
Helen Hamilton’s weekly, term-based groups are focused on offering a safe and supportive space for vulnerable women in the local community to connect and work through past trauma.
The annual festival offers a full day of free activity aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues and promoting local support.
A recent HOPE course co-delivered by one of our Recovery Practitioners resulted in some positive feedback from attendees.
James, one of our Recovery Practitioners in the Eastern locality, tells us about his work with the award-nominated rehabilitation team.
The innovative new toolkit was collated and prepared by Jeanie Lynch, Programme Manager of the CoLab Women project.
Matt Merriam shares his experience of a typical week in the life of a Community Development Lead at the Devon Mental Health Alliance.
The organisation uses creativity, textiles, craft, and art to build community and support people in vulnerable life moments.
The centre in Sidmouth offers a wide range of donkey-assisted activities, which use contact with animals and nature as bases for improving mental health and wellbeing in children and adults.
There were plenty of topics to cover as we invited people from numerous organisations helping people with mental health needs to Okehampton.
Headway Devon offers a range of therapeutic support options for people who experienced brain injuries.
We recently met with mental health and wellbeing workers to discuss their own wellbeing and working more sustainably.
The most recent Creative Solutions event saw over 15 professionals from around Crediton discussing local mental health support.
Jannine Corby is one of our Recovery Practitioners, who focus on working closely with people with a wide range of needs who traditionally may have fallen through gaps between services and organisations providing help.
Larry, one of our Recovery Practitioners, recently co-facilitated a Mental Health First Aid training course to help enable people to recognise and respond to signs of mental health problems.
We’re pleased to be supporting the innovative ‘weight neutral’ training provider with a grant from our Innovation Fund.
We’re bringing our networking and engagement session to the Moose Hall in Crediton on Thursday 26 March 2023.
We’re hosting more networking and engagement days in the East and Mid Devon areas.
Community Development Lead Matt attended the conference, which invited around 100 representatives from the health and social care sector to discuss mental health services in 2023.
We recently presented a challenge to Exeter MBA students regarding funding in the VCSE sector.
Over 60 people from organisations across Exeter joined to discuss mental health provision for people in the city.
The accesible active sessions were delivered by two members of the Step One team at Shekinah Grow in Paignton.
How a grant from the Devon Mental Health Alliance helped Orchard School Forest run a number of over-50s groups.
The funding will pay for the brand new social enterprise to launch a dedicated website, as well as marketing materials to help spread the word across Devon.
HealthScape will be able to deliver more water-based community events thanks to funding from the Alliance.
The second Festival of Human Connection engaged more people from local mental health organisations with an opportunity to explore ideas and opportunities.
A recent HOPE course co-delivered by one of our Recovery Practitioners resulted in some positive feedback from attendees.
The event aims to empower all sectors to work together as an ever-flowing and ever-evolving mental health community.
The recent Riviera Riders Project aimed to help improve mental health outcomes and increased social networks.
The 6-week group in Teignmouth, delivered by Volunteering in Health, covers self-help approaches and solution-focused peer support for low level anxiety and associated difficulties.
The weekly over 50s group provides opportunities for social interaction, building social connections, and physical activity.
The funding will help the social enterprise to deliver more holistic horsemanship workshops to help improve people’s mental wellbeing.
The event featured discussions on a range of topics related to mental health, attended by various parts of the sector.
The event aims to empower all sectors to work together as an ever-flowing and ever-evolving mental health community.
Over 30 social prescribers, recovery practitioners, health coaches, and support workers attended the successful event in Torquay hosted by DPT and the Alliance.
Those working in a social prescriber or related capacity in Devon are invited to join us at Shekinah’s Endeavour House next Wednesday.
One of our Community Development Leads recently attended an event hosted by Bipolar UK, all about bipolar disorder.
The engagement and networking day was also attended by Torbay MP Kevin Foster and others from the area.
The Alliance hosted more than 20 people from statutory and voluntary organisations to discuss local service needs.
Find out more and have your say on plans to improve mental health support services across Torbay and South Devon.
The popular event featured speakers from Plymouth City Council, MoonDogz, and many more.
Deb from the charity providing nature-based therapy shares an update on the project following their recent grant.
The Plymouth-based organisation provides a range of support services for those seeking asylum in the UK.
Listen In is open to adults with marginalised identities, who would like to join the team for outdoor workshops to explore identity, sound, and place.
The organisation delivers popular workshops centred around recovery from mental health problems in Plymouth.
The Creative Growth project provides ongoing weekly creative sessions in a safe, supported learning environment.
Pantheon Re:Set is a set of supportive group exercise classes running every Tuesday and Thursday in Victoria Park, Plymouth.
HTT offers nature-based therapy sessions in Plymouth, which help to improve mental health and holistic wellbeing.
With the funding from the Alliance, Peggy and Emma will be able to continue running their popular Friday group for another 6 months.
The Trust runs East Shallowford Farm, on which it delivers services to help young people and adults improve their mental wellbeing.
The mental health information hub and community website also operates a walking group and other outreach work.
The group promotes friendly and informal art sessions that can help with mental health and wellbeing.
Members of the Alliance were honoured to attend the annual conference hosted by First Light, Operation Emotion, and moMENtum recently.
We’re championing the growing repository of mental health information, advice, and guidance.
The Chestnut Appeal provides care for men in Devon living with prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or penile cancer.