To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, our UOK frontline workers across Brighton & Hove came together on Tuesday, 13th May, at Southdown’s office in Isetta Square for a gathering. The event provided a valuable opportunity for those working on the ground in mental health, wellbeing, and community services to pause, connect, and reflect on what community truly means to them.

The lunch-hour event featured light-hearted thoughtful conversations and activities designed to reflect and connect. Participants enjoyed lunch and music while getting to know each other, discovering shared passions, perspectives, and new possibilities for collaboration.

As people introduced themselves in a circle, we asked them: What does community mean to you? 

The responses were powerful and moving.

Some spoke about the warmth and freedom that comes from being part of a group where they can simply be themselves. Others shared how community means being able to access health and wellbeing close to home so that no one has to travel far or feel isolated when in need.

August Reid from The Clare Project, one of the UOK partners, reflected on community as an act of solidarity – a reminder that people don’t have to navigate difficult experiences alone. Others echoed this sentiment, sharing how small gestures like dropping a voice note to a friend can be powerful acts of connection, reminding us we are not alone.

5 Ways to Wellbeing Campaign

Since 2001, the Mental Health Foundation has been leading Mental Health Awareness Week – bringing the UK together to focus on getting good mental health. This year, we celebrated the power and importance of community. 

Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and give us a sense purpose. 

So for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we rooted our celebration in the 5 Ways to Wellbeing—five evidence-based actions that improve mental health—by exploring how each one is deepened and made more powerful through connection with others.

We also shared postcards inspired by the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, encouraging attendees to reflect on how they look after their own wellbeing through community. The responses were a testament to the meaningful work our frontline partners do every day, and the importance of supporting those who support others.

This event was a simple but powerful reminder: community is built in moments of sharing, listening, and laughter. It was a joy to hold space for our frontline workers to come together, and their energy and reflections made it clear, they felt the same way.