History

Brent Mind was created by a group of volunteers who wanted to address a lack of services for local people experiencing mental distress. Due to high demand, the initiative lead to expansion of Brent Mind's services over the last 35 years.

Brent Mind timeline:

  • 30 September 1974: The inaugural meeting of Brent Mind takes place.

  • 1975: Brent Mind opens 6 flats for former psychiatric patients and launches a Social Club to provide an opportunity for service users to build relationships and improve their wellbeing through a range of social activities.

  • 1977: The Befriending Scheme is set up and the first befrienders are trained and linked to people discharged from hospital.

  • 1978: We employ our first full-time paid development worker.

  • 1979: Brent Mind welcomes its first paid housing worker.

  • 1982: The Mind Training House opens to provide accommodation and support for people experiencing mental distress. They are being taught life skills in order to achieve their goals of living independently.

  • 1985: Brent Mind has its first holiday which takes place on the Isle of Wight and attracts 31.

  • 1987: Brent Mind launches a Counselling Service.

  • 1995-1998: Brent Mind runs the Shenley Advice Project, an advocacy service for over 200 people discharged from Shenley hospital prior to its closure in 1998.

  • 1997: Brent Mind launches its Mind Map programme to raise awareness of mental health issues amongst children and young people. We also start offering support for those with a Dual Diagnosis (mental distress alongside misuse of drugs/and or alcohol) and form Brent Mind User Involvement Forum to allow the service users to have their concerns heard and responded to.

  • 1998: The Counselling Centre opens at 383 High Road, expanding its service from 25 to 40 counsellors. Brent Mind also created the Befriending Scheme to provide one to one support, by trained volunteers, to those experiencing mental health distress and isolation.

  • 2000: Brent Mind opens a Supported Housing Service for Black Men with Dual Diagnosis.

  • 2003: Brent Mind takes over the Jewish Self-help Group and creates Rainbow Group.

  • 2004: We open the Hearing Voices Group.

  • 2007: Brent Mind launches Contact Service.

  • 2008: Brent Mind launched Healthy Minds in Healthy Bodies initiative and moves its Head Office to Dyne Road in Kilburn.

  • 2009: Brent Mind celebrates its 35th Anniversary and relaunches website www.brentmind.org.uk