Acts of Kindness in Warwickshire

By Michelle Lewis

On Wednesday we invited KeyRing Members and staff to the virtual Warwickshire hub for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Before the lockdown we held the hub on a Tuesday afternoon where we would all meet to inspire, learn and do activities to support our mental health and wellbeing. Throughout the lockdown we have been continuing our hub sessions on a Friday via video app and we continue to encourage each other to look after our mental health and wellbeing.

Last year for Mental Health Awareness Week we all got together and created a workshop of fun learning activities and creativity. This year we had to think of something different.

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is Acts of Kindness. The Warwickshire hub invited KeyRing Members and staff from across the country to join us for a virtual hub to share stories they have experienced throughout the lockdown.

It was a fun hub! We shared some great stories.

One Member, Gary, has been leading a small group that send regular messages to each other to make sure everyone is ok.

Some Members and staff had sent leaflets to neighbours asking if they need any help. 

One of KeyRing’s community enablers, Cherry, is grateful for the kindness of care staff that are looking after her mother in a care home. 

Anthony, a KeyRing volunteer shared how he was overwhelmed from an act of kindness when he received a thank you card form his managers, he said “It has really boosted my confidence”.

Richard, a KeyRing Member shared that he knocked on a neighbour’s door after an ambulance was called to check his neighbour was ok, he said “It took courage but I felt it was the right thing to do”

We talked about the importance of looking after our own wellbeing and giving acts of kindness to ourselves, so that we have the energy to share with others.

Some Members and staff felt that they received kindness from their pets. They felt encouraged to walk their pets and enjoy receiving a cuddle. Beth, Mel and Cherry showed the hub their pets and that really cheered us up, a great act of kindness!

We all agreed how grateful we felt to be able to connect online, to keep in touch and the kindness of the group left us all feeling great!