How We Help
How We Help
“I’m so grateful for having the opportunities to attend courses as I find them invaluable. Despite not feeling my best, I managed to push forth and create. So I now have a nice feeling of accomplishment when I get back home.”
Community Connections client
What is Community Connections?
Community Connections is a free community-based service delivered throughout Surrey to support you with emotional wellbeing difficulties such as low mood, stress, anxiety or a diagnosed mental health condition. Our wellbeing activities and peer support are designed to break social isolation and make you feel supported in a safe environment.
Our Activities and Groups
We offer a wide range of wellbeing activities and groups including:
- Peer support groups (Coffee Mornings, Women, Men, Young People, LGBTQIA+, Carers, Autism, Bipolar, Hoarding, etc)
- Physical activities (yoga, football, zumba, qigong, taekwondo, golf, tennis, etc)
- Self-development workshops (depression, stress management, anxiety, resilience building, assertiveness, decluttering, etc)
- Arts & crafts and creative activities (all levels, acrylic painting, charcoal drawing, sewing, knitting, paper printing, watercolour, mandala, drawing, creative writing etc)
- Connection to nature groups (gardening club, walks, mindfulness, forest bathing, etc)
- Interest groups and hobbies (reading club, quiz group, choir, music group, etc)
Why use Community Connections?
Some of the benefits of using Community Connections include:
- Available throughout Surrey, both online and face-to-face to fit around your lifestyle.
- All support and activities are free.
- Access to long-term mental health support in a timely manner.
- Breaks social isolation as all activities are provided in small groups.
- Advice and information for practical issues affecting your wellbeing such as debt, housing, benefits, carer issues, etc.
- Delivered in the community and individually tailored to your needs.
- You do not need a diagnosis to access the service. The only criteria is that you live in Surrey, are 16+ and experience mental or emotional health issues that you want to address.
- You can register yourself with your nearest provider (see below). You don’t need to visit your GP or ask for a referral from a mental health professional (although they may suggest it to you and can refer you to us if easier).
- You can use Community Connections while you wait for specialist support or on top of any other mental health service.
Who delivers Community Connections?
Community Connections is available throughout Surrey, delivered by three different providers depending on which borough you live in.
Each provider offers similar support
and activities with some slight variation.
Find your nearest provider below.
