Mental health group is asking for donations this Christmas to help them provide services

A community group in Doncaster is asking for people to donate the price of a Christmas gift to ensure they can keep offering their mental health services.
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The CDS Wellness group has been in operation since 2014 and is currently based in Bentley.

Run by Samantha Greenway-Pickin, a mental health support worker.

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Members of the CDS Well Being group meeting up in a park with social distancing in place.Members of the CDS Well Being group meeting up in a park with social distancing in place.
Members of the CDS Well Being group meeting up in a park with social distancing in place.

“She is currently having to isolate due to Covid-19 and recently told us she was going to make a donation to the group instead of buying Christmas presents this year.

“She said ‘tinsel, cards and presents are irrelevant when you’ve lost loved ones’ when she shared her idea with us.

“Ann says that this group saved her life and that this is a nice way to say thank you.”

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Samantha says she fears the upcoming impact on people's mental health due to the second wave of the virus.

With furlough ending, jobs being lost and a general state of unsettlement all leading to more people having issues with their well being.

“Mental health referrals have gone up significantly in the last six months,” she continued.

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The CDS Wellness group recently received funding from the National Lottery which Samantha says she is very grateful for.

But the funding will only cover six months of their services which is why they are asking for donations this Winter.

Samantha says the group is attended by many different types of people from the Doncaster community from teachers to nurses and social workers.

The mental health community group helps its members deal with mental illness and struggles through Wellness Recovery Action Plan.

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The group is open for anyone to join and due to Covid-19 many of their services are now virtual operating via Zoom.

If you would like to make a donation no matter how small or speak to Samantha about assisting her cause you can get in touch by emailing [email protected] or click here.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.