A focus on both mental and physical wellbeing is at the heart of Notts in Mind, the peer support group for women organised by the Trent Bridge Community Trust which expands into the city centre this week.
Weekly sessions of no more than 15 people aim to support women who predominantly struggle with social isolation issues, be it because of their location or due to their physical health.
The first half of sessions often feature discussion about a particular theme - for example, a recent session was centred on around frustrations felt during the festive season.
The second half of the session then aims to put what has been discussed into practice with physical activity arranged - with the latest session consisting of boxercise and hitting a pinata full of written-down concerns.
"Both the mental and physical aspect of wellbeing are equally important and go hand in hand - they both feed into one another and we make sure that our sessions always reflect that," said Liv Mackie, the Trust's Health and Wellbeing Officer and Notts in Mind coordinator.
"Our sessions provide a safe space for women to open up about their struggles, and ultimately allow them to support one another through discussions and physical activity."
The get-togethers are predominantly held in Cotgrave on Thursday mornings, whilst a new session is being set up from Tuesday 21 January in Lenton, which will take place on Tuesday afternoons.
Activites at the sessions have included group gym or aqua fit classes, therapy dog sessions and 'cook and eat' sessions at Nottingham Trent University.
Booking is not required for the free sessions, with women struggling with isolation and looking for support encouraged to contact session leader, Liv Mackie, in advance of attending a session to find out more and alleviate any concerns.
"There's no strict criteria on who can or cannot attend - our groups consist of women from all backgrounds, ages and circumstances. We never turn anyone away but do strongly encourage women interested in attending to get in touch with us first," Liv remarked.
The group also has a WhatsApp support group, where members can send messages if they feel they need support, and can arrange their own meet ups. 'Homework' is sometimes set, with members given something to focus on for the week which they can report back to their peers.
For more information, please email olivia.mackie@trentbridge.co.uk
More information on Notts in Mind is available here...
