Head shave raises funds for Rochdale and District Mind

Jeanette Toombs, Rochdale and District Mind’s wellbeing co-ordinator, has shaved her hair off to raise money for the mental health service.

While carrying out her role, she had heard first-hand how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the mental health of those in Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood and wanted to do something to help.

She said: “My hair was growing and it was getting too long, I couldn’t visit my hairdresser so I came up with the idea of shaving my head to raise money for Rochdale Mind. I’ve worked there for 20 years and it’s truly a fantastic place; it’s a very difficult time for everyone and I wanted to do my bit to help us be there for people who need our support.

“While we have been reaching out to our service users during the lockdown we have heard clients struggling with the impact on their mental health. Their anxiety levels have increased significantly due to the enforced isolation and they are missing the safe space and peer support that we provide at Rochdale Mind.”

So far Jeanette has raised £296 plus gift aid which will go towards delivering mental health and wellbeing support to the residents of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood.

When one of the service users Jeanette supports heard about her fundraising, he reached out to his friends to help raise funds. Jeanette was touched to hear this feedback and it spurred her on.

 

 

The service user said: “As most of you know I have struggled a lot in the past with my mental health, through depression and anxiety, and is something I live with on a day to day basis. Along with support from my employer, Rochdale Mind have supported me in more ways than I can say, and my Wellbeing Worker Jeanette has been a rock through some really tough times, and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her ongoing support.

“Rochdale Mind provide vital services to people in need like me in a very under-funded area in mental health services. Jeanette has made the brave decision to shave off her hair (to a number 2) to raise vital funds to keep the Rochdale Mind centre running, and I am asking for you to support this fund raising in any way you can.”

Colleagues from Rochdale and District Mind gathered on Zoom on Thursday 30 April to watch Jeanette’s husband, Gary, who volunteers at Rochdale and District Mind set to Jeanette’s hair with the clippers set to number two.

Jeanette said: "Rochdale and District Mind and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated. I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support received."

 

 

Rochdale and District Mind have moved their face-to-face services to telephone, email, messaging and Zoom. Their wellbeing co-ordinators have reached out to all current service users, to check in on them and see what help they need through this difficult time. They have adapted their group support to help reduce the feeling of isolation and loneliness.

Their men’s and women’s support groups, survivors of childhood sexual abuse groups, social cafés, living life to the full courses and yoga classes are being delivered via telephone, messaging and Zoom. They are creating podcasts for their relaxation classes and their creative writing groups are continuing with their creativity by emailing their words each week.

Since adapting services in this way, Rochdale and District Mind has received positive feedback from service users across the Rochdale Borough:

“Thank you for taking time to speak to me it really helped. Although I am self-isolating due to the Coronavirus knowing I can still access Rochdale Mind via phone is a massive help!”

“Your text message asking how I was doing made me cry. I have not spoken to anyone all week.”

To help raise money for Rochdale and District Mind, Jeanette is asking people to text SHAVE 3 to 70460 to donate £3 or text SHAVE 10 to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £3 or £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 or £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SHAVENOINFO 3 or SHAVENOINFO 10 to 70460.

You can also visit Jeanette’s Just Giving page here:

• www.justgiving.com/campaign/jeanettesheadshave