Updated: DMHA Innovation Fund supporting residents in Cranbrook, Exeter through EX5-Alive
We are pleased to report that we recently provided a grant from our Innovation Fund to support Aynsley Jones and her work at EX5-Alive: Cranbrook Community Support. Matt, our Community Mental Health Development Lead for Exeter, East and Mid Devon, explained: “Cranbrook is a community whose population has grown quickly thanks to a lot of new housing being built. However, the infrastructure to support those families has been much slower to get in place. Aynsley has been a part of starting a new community hub in Cranbrook that will be a big part of filling that gap and meeting those needs.”
Aynsley added about the community support project: “One of our key areas is supporting mental health. As we all know, we have all had challenging times over the last few years. Due to this, we would like our community to have the opportunity to be able to connect with one another by reducing isolation, which COVID-19 brought to the forefront.”
“As part of our support, we offer food, cost of living signposting, debt support, courses in trauma and anxiety, parental courses, a nurture group, inspirational coaching, pathways back to education, and speech and language for preschool. Also, Wellbeing Cranbrook comprises a community connector and a builder, who work with individuals and groups to thrive.”
The population of Cranbrook has grown hugely over the last few years
“The International Club is a community-run group for anyone who wants to celebrate different cultures. Many families who moved to Cranbrook during the pandemic expressed feeling isolated, so we thought it would be great to have a weekly group to discuss all things cultural. This will lead us onto an international five-a-side football tournament this spring with an international pot luck gathering. This is something we can’t wait for and all the incredible stories we will have.”
“We would like to thank Recovery Devon and the Devon Mental Health Alliance for funding this project, which means the world to this group who will now have a safe space to be themselves.”
Update December 2023:
Aynsley Jones has provided us with the following update on the project’s first year:
“Cranbrook Culture Club has been through an amazing year and its number one objective was to get people feeling they were part of the community. Many people from our international community had felt isolated since moving to Cranbrook, especially after Covid. To date the group have met, eaten, talked, and laughed their way through 2023. The information discussed in our group has been fundamental in learning about diversity within cultures, and the best part was breaking down all those myths about stereotypes and finding out that we are essentially all the same.”
Here are a few quotes from some of the group’s attendees during 2023:
“Without Culture Club, we would have struggled to understand how to catch a bus!”
“I met my very first friend in the UK.”
“Information from the group about how to introduce yourself was the best.”
“Who knew everyone liked curry so much in the UK!”
“It is such a happy and friendly group. I look forward to going.”