Mind Matters

Mind Matters, NHS Talking Therapies service in Surrey, now runs weekly sessions at Age UK Surrey's Clockhouse community centre in Milford, to provide face-to-face support and connect older people with mental health services.

The sessions run on Tuesdays and have been organised as part of a new approach by Mind Matters which involved working with local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, in order to reach groups of people who may struggle to access talking therapies.

Older people attending the Clockhouse Community Centre in Milford can be referred or signposted to self-refer to Mind Matters by Age UK Surrey colleagues. Once referred, they are assessed as usual, but with a flag for sessions to take place face-to-face at the community centre.

Catherine Hodgson, CEO of Age UK Surrey, said: ‘I am delighted that Age UK Surrey has partnered with Mind Matters Surrey to provide Talking Therapies at our Clockhouse Community Centre in Milford. We know that this important service will enable older people in our communities to access vital in-person support’.

Jade Finlay, Health Inequalities Lead and Primary Care Counsellor at Mind Matters, said: "We’ve worked closely with the Age UK Surrey team to help promote the service, attending staff meetings and building relationships that will support signposting and referrals."

“We aim to reduce the barriers older adults, their families and carers may face in accessing talking therapies by meeting them in the heart of their community.”

The clinic is open to both new and existing people using the Mind Matters service. If you would like to find out more about the partnership with Age UK Surrey or refer someone to the service can contact Jade via jade.finlay@sabp.nhs.uk or Ellie Perez, Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, via ellie.perez@sabp.nhs.uk. People can also contact the Age UK team, who can help with signposting and referrals.

Anyone aged 17 or over who is registered with a GP in Surrey can self-refer online via the Mind Matters website.