Friday Programme

Gaining Control in the Face of Overwhelm 

In this engaging online session, Rachel Morris will help you recognise the signs of overwhelm and understand why feelings of being “out of control” are so common. You’ll explore practical, evidence-based strategies to regain clarity, calm, and perspective – whether that means stepping away for a reset, prioritising what truly matters, building your resilience and overcoming your fears or simply finding moments of enjoyment and pleasure.

When Life Changes So Do We: Loss and the Shaping of Identity 

Loss reshapes identity in ways that are often invisible until we are forced to confront them. Whether it’s the loss of a role, good health or even a version of ourselves, each experience challenges the narratives we’ve built about who we are. In navigating grief, we also engage in the delicate work of reconstruction and growth – of self, of meaning, of purpose, of connection. Join a selection of experts who will offer a space to explore how identity evolves through loss, not just in moments of mourning, but in the resilience of redefinition that follows.

Still Ignored: The Fight for Accessible Healthcare

Robin Ash from SignHealth presents a workshop for healthcare professionals on the barriers the Deaf community face in accessing mental healthcare and how to better address these problems.

Equity in Practice: The Role of the Accessible Information Standard in Deaf Mental Health

This discussion brings together voices from within the healthcare system and Deaf community to explore the real-word impact of the Accessible Information Standard. Chaired by Mark Hopkinson, the discussion will highlight the practical challenges, gaps and opportunities in implementing the accessible communications within NHS services.  

Compassionate Conversations: Suicide, Bereavement and Grief

This talk brings together voices from lived experience, mental health care, bereavement support and professionals to open a courageous, compassionate dialogue about the complex realities of suicide and its aftermath. Together, we will explore the deep emotional landscapes of grief and loss, the unique challenges of suicide bereavement, and the way in which communities can hold space for healing, remembrance and hope.

All You Need is Rest

Join Mita Mistry - host of the Healing Place podcast, author, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapist – to explore the restorative power of rest and sleep. Drawing on insights from her book All You Need is Rest, Mita will share her expertise and practical advice on establishing a more restful and revitalised life. 

The Missing Project: Caregiver's Stories

Join us for a moving event curated by artist Deirdre Kashdan, founder of The Missing Project, featuring carers’ stories through music, art, and readings. This powerful session gives voice to those supporting loved ones with mental illness—often unseen in mental health conversations. All are welcome to attend.

The Signs: Trusting your Instincts and Living without Limits

Join neuroscientist and author Dr Tara Swart as she explores the science and meaning behind signs and synchronicities. Drawing on insights from her book The Signs, Tara blends neuroscience, real-life stories, and teachings on consciousness to show how tuning into intuitive guidance can help us.

On Being Creative

Join us for a vibrant and inspiring event that brings together artists, researchers, and other creative thinkers to explore the many dimensions of creativity and creative health. Through a range of presentations, we’ll delve into what it means to be creative and how creativity can energise, ground, challenge, and transform our sense of self.

Your Mind on Music: The Science & Experience of Song, Sound & Voice

Can a song change your life? What do we mean by music and wellness? Why do many of us enjoy singing in the shower and is it ever too late to start? These are just some of the questions that will be discussed by music experts, who'll share their experiences of making music with others. They'll also talk about how to bounce-back from being told you couldn't sing as a child. This discussion will give you some pointers and hopefully debunk a few myths too.

Frazzled Online Meeting

Join us for an online version of our Frazzled facilitated peer support meetings.

Frazzled meetings are designed to provide confidential and non-judgmental peer support, where people who are feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life can talk openly, connect and feel heard.

An Evening with Chaps Choir and Guests

An evening of live music, song, performance and spoken word to induce joy and pull on the heartstrings with headliners Chaps Choir, alongside performers and writers from the City Lit creative community. Proceeds from this event will go towards the City Lit Bursary Scheme, supporting those on low-income access life-changing education.