Mature Millers feature in Voluntary Action Rotherham mental health magazine

ARTWORK, advice and features have been compiled into a mental health mini-magazine by Voluntary Action Rotherham.

Issue one of Where Is Your Mind? includes a chat with Derek France, chairman of the Mature Millers, about how the group is helping combat isolation and loneliness.

There are also contributions from Anthony Lacey, of S62 Community Together’s men’s mental health group, and Jane Owen, who runs an increasingly popular Menopause Support Group.

Artwork has been provided through workshops at Rotherham charities Rush House and YAWR Services (You Asked We Responded), as well as other contributions from people which lived experience of mental health issues.

And Rotherham-based artist duo Samira Butt and Emily Twynham — collectively known as Aralia Studios — were commissioned to do the cover.

Their piece, which is called Navigating Thoughts Through Open Waters, takes inspiration from their own experiences around mental health.

David Plumtree, VAR’s director of infrastructure said: “This ’zine is brilliant. We’re really proud of the work front line organisations do on the topic of mental health, and of our team for pulling this together.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, there’s something in here to get you thinking about your own mental health, and that can only be a good thing.”

VAR is creating an alliance of not-for-profit organisations in Rotherham who are supporting people with their mental health, under provider network manager Kathy Wilkinson.

A limited run of the magazine is being distributed across town, with some copies available from the Advertiser reception on Upper Millgate.