Mental Health Awareness Week 

During this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we hosted a pop up stand inside Cabot Circus, right in the heart of Bristol’s Shopping Quarter. It was a week filled with connection, kindness, and powerful conversations, and we’re excited to share a little of what happened behind the scenes.

Our aim was simple: to open up conversations around mental health, let people know that support is out there, and show how easy it can be to spread a little hope.

We spoke with people from all walks of life, some who stopped by to find out more about what we do, others who shared their own journeys, and many who were simply moved by the idea of hope being handed out in a bag.

Our Bags of Hope – filled with small, meaningful gifts (including some incredible treats from LUSH UK – thank you so much!) gave us a gentle way to start those conversations. Whether someone was seeking support for themselves, for a friend, a family member, or even customers in their own workplace, the openness we witnessed was amazing.

A massive thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand, shared a story, accepted a bag, or even just smiled and waved. You helped break down the stigma around mental health, just by showing up and engaging.

There were also some beautiful moments of unexpected kindness: a special shoutout to the team at YO! Sushi in Cabot Circus, who spotted our volunteers hard at work and surprised them with a sushi lunch. It honestly made our day.

Community was the theme of this year’s Mental Health Week, and we felt it in every conversation, every smile, and every Bag of Hope handed out. We left feeling incredibly inspired, and even more committed to continuing our work.