Wandsworth Care Alliance

Thrive LDN’s Great Mental Health Day 2026

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Thrive LDN is a public mental health partnership dedicated to helping all Londoners live happier, healthier lives by promoting wellbeing, reducing stigma around mental health, and connecting communities with support and resources. It brings together a range of partners to coordinate campaigns, training, suicide prevention initiatives, and free wellbeing resources across the capital.

One of Thrive LDN’s initiatives is Great Mental Health Day which is an annual awareness day that aims to get Londoners talking about mental health, celebrate support services available across the city, and challenge the stigma of reaching out for help. This year the day falls on Friday, 30th January, marking the fifth year the event has taken place.

Everyday Spaces

For 2026, Thrive LDN has chosen the theme of everyday spaces, informal, trusted locations where connection and support naturally happen. These could be community kitchens, local craft groups, sports pitches, neighbourhood parks or any welcoming space where people feel they belong. The idea is to highlight that support doesn’t always start in clinical settings; it often begins in the familiar corners of our everyday lives.

Get involved and share

Great Mental Health Day encourages Londoners to take part in events and activities across the city, either by attending local gatherings, hosting inclusive and free events, or using the hashtag #GreatMentalHealth on social media. Thrive LDN provides a supporter’s pack which you can access here. They provide an interactive map of local activities, and free training and webinars to help individuals and organisations get involved and support wellbeing in their communities.

Feedback from previous years highlights how the day has helped people start meaningful conversations, feel supported, and discover local services they hadn’t known about before emphasising the power of connection and shared experience in promoting mental health.

Upcoming wellbeing events

Wandsworth Borough Council has put together a list of Week of Wellbeing events taking place across the borough next week. The programme offers residents opportunities to take part in activities that support mental health, encourage connection, and promote positive wellbeing from workshops and walks to creative and community-based sessions.

Discover the events here.

Where to find support

If you or someone you know might need professional mental health help, there are several accessible services available. It is important to reach out and get help if you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, loneliness or depression. Support is available for whatever you are going through.

This link shares services that are available to residents in Wandsworth: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health/your-health/mental-health/mental-health-services-in-wandsworth/

Urgent Support (Not Life-Threatening)

  • NHS 111: Call 111 or use their online service for urgent mental health advice.
  • Shout (Text): Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support anytime.
  • Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7, free) to talk to someone.
  • Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Teams (CRHT): These NHS teams provide urgent care in the community.

Winter Engagement Fund 2024/5

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Between September 2024 and March 2025, Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA) have managed the Winter Engagement Fund on behalf of NHS South-West London Integrated Care Board (SWL ICB). Grants of up to £550 were awarded to community or voluntary organisations in Wandsworth to support people to stay well during the Winter. This grant was intended to fund activities and events to engage local people with information about winter topics such as: vaccinations, places to find support, using local pharmacies and the NHS App. Wandsworth organisations held a total of 60 events for the Winter Engagement Fund 2024/25. Information was shared to 703 people in 11 languages.

South West London ICS partnered with local organisations to engage 10,000 residents through 115 grants, funding 350 community activities from Oct 2024–Feb 2025. Learn more here.

Read our full report on the Winter Engagement fund here.

New research project: Autism and mental health for children and young people

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Healthwatch Wandsworth’s 2024-2025 research priority is children and young people’s experiences of autism and mental health.

Healthwatch Wandsworth speaks to the local community about their experiences with health and social care services. We then share this information with services to make changes.

Based on feedback from local people, Healthwatch Wandsworth, as the independent champion for users of health and social care, is focusing on autism diagnosis for 0-8 year olds in 2024-5.

Across Wandsworth and England there is an unprecedented number of people seeking an autism diagnosis and wait times to move through the autism diagnosis pathway are lengthy. Often this means people are not getting the support they need as they wait. These delays in diagnosis and support have severe impacts on mental health (Morris J (2024) “The rapidly growing waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments” QualityWatch: Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation).

We will survey the families and carers of children and young people with autism spectrum condition to explore the following questions:

  • What does a ‘good’ 0-8 year old autism spectrum condition diagnostic pathway look like?
  • How can children and families get the support they need without a diagnosis?

If you’re a family member or carer of a child who is seeking or already has an autism diagnosis, we want to hear from you. Please complete this survey and/or share it with others in the community to make your and their voice heard.

Take the survey.

Nada Savitch – Volunteer Interview

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About Nada and her background 

I’ve worked for charities for many years. I’ve got a master’s in information science, and I started off in pharmaceutical publishing, volunteered in Sri Lanka for 3 years as a librarian, and returned then got a job at a specialist library at the Institute of Marine Engineers (a charity and professional body).  

I also worked for the Alzheimer’s society for about 10 years setting up their website and discussion board. A couple of colleagues and I ran our own community interest company which is like a small charity. We did lots of projects with people with dementia. We got a real reputation for service user involvement.  

Then, I was caring for mum for a long time which is when I came across Healthwatch. Service user involvement is one of my passions- that’s why Healthwatch appeals to me. Healthwatch is something that I could do while caring for mum, and it stretch my mind. 

How long have you been volunteering with Healthwatch Wandsworth? 

I have been a Healthwatch Research Assistant since 2019. The research role suited me because I could do so much remotely while caring for my mum, and I could choose the things that interested me. The flexibility allows you to work to your capacity and is such a lovely way of volunteering. I felt valued while caring for my mum.  

Were you able to use your previous professional skills in this volunteer role? 

The things I’ve done as a volunteer have been so varied. I’ve worked on a range of things from glossaries to writing to statistics. I’ve used my skills and developed new ones. It’s also kept me up to date with what’s happening in Wandsworth especially with health and social care. It also gave me insight into Healthwatch and how it works. 

Can you share a positive experience of volunteering with us? 

It’s all been positive. Generally, I feel useful and informed. One of the most interesting things was looking at the ONS Statistics. 

What encouragement would you give to someone who has never considered volunteering before? 

Volunteering gives you satisfaction. It’s all the best bits of having job without any of the bad bits. You’re helping people and you feel really valued. You can grow and develop skills on your own terms. You get all the job satisfaction of having a really good job without any of the pressure. You get paid in the satisfaction of doing something good. It’s a good thing to have on your CV.  

It’s brought me so much knowledge and I feel part of a Healthwatch community. You have all made me feel part of that. People think you only volunteer when you’re young or retired. I think it’s important that all people of all ages think about volunteering. Volunteering can help combat the stress of work life. 

Can you share 3 ways volunteering can impact the volunteer? 

  1. Helping you grow. 
  1. Interacting with a variety of people. 
  1. Being part of a community. 

Interested in volunteering with us? Click here to learn more. 

Addressing violence and abuse against children and young people

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Children and young people are the most vulnerable members of our society, yet many continue to suffer in silence from various forms of violence and abuse.

This topic requires urgent attention and action from individuals and communities. By shedding light on this problem and working together to address it’s root causes, we can create safer environments where children and young people can thrive.

Violence and abuse against children and young people can take many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse, as well as neglect.

The impact

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated one billion children aged 2-17 worldwide are affected by violence each year. These experiences can have long-lasting and devastating effects on their physical health, mental well-being, and overall development.

Survivors of violence and abuse may experience mental health problems and without the appropriate support the problems can affect many aspects of their lives such as relationships, education, careers, and overall quality of life.

Prevention

Having appropriate systems and procedures in place can help massively in addressing the issue.The right education and awareness on children’s rights, healthy relationships can allow children to spot signs and report any concerns. Also creating supportive environments for children in schools, communities and homes is also important to allow them to feel comfortable to seek help or advice.

Support

There are various organisations that provide support, guidance, and a safe space to speak about any concerns you have.

The Cassandra Centre – they provide advice, support and counselling services for young people and families who are directly or indirectly involved in abusive relationships.

Britebox, Richmond Women’s Hub – provide support to women to enable them to thrive after experiencing domestic violence.

S.T.O.R.M Family Centre – they provide free counselling services art therapy and sensory therapy. Even if you are not a sufferer or survivor of domestic abuse, they can help with any issues you may be experiencing.

Do you have more resources to share on this article? Please email us on communications@wandcareall.org.uk to share resources.

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