VCS Community
Welcome to The Hearts and Minds Partnership. We are three perinatal mental health charities (Acacia Family Support, Bluebell Care and Smile Group) who came together with a shared vision and values.
We have more than 30 years of collective experience of growing a VCS service from scratch and, while it’s hugely rewarding, we know the learning curve can be steep at times.
We'd love for you to join us!
Benefits of joining
Connect
Be part of a thriving community of VCS perinatal mental health services across the country, with the opportunity to share learning and come together. Not only does this combat the loneliness that sometimes comes with running a service, but it also gives a more coherent voice for our sector.
Support
Benefit from the support of a passionate community, all at different stages of growth. Join our compelling online and face-to-face events and workshops. You can also support your own and your organisation’s development through the training we’re co-creating to meet the needs of both emerging and established grassroots services.
Celebrate
Hearts and Minds is here to share the wonderful work that is going on across the VCS perinatal mental health sector so we can have a stronger voice and help to influence strategic decisions. We’re passionate about recognising the value of the VCS community as a fundamental part of an integrated perinatal mental health pathway.
Events
We are passionate about creating trusted spaces for grassroots organisations in the perinatal mental health sector to come together, share learning, make new contacts and talk about the challenges we’re all facing.
Look out for The Conversation Space – our monthly online meet-ups for those within our community, as well as other events within our programme. Collectively they offer us the chance to come together and create a coherent voice to represent the wonderful work going on across the country in our sector.
News & Updates
The pillars of partnership working in perinatal mental health
Homing in on an integrated model of support for families in Derby.
Thursday, 4th May 2023
Community Corner - Our regular spotlight on a grassroots VCSE organisation in the perinatal mental health sector
Shining a spotlight on Get Me Out The Four Walls - Q&A with Lucinda Terry, Manager
Thursday, 13th April 2023
Have Your Say
Help us to amplify the voice of the VCSE community in perinatal mental health
Thursday, 12th January 2023
Training & Support
The Hearts and Minds community is made up of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations at different stages of growth; from those that are just starting up to services that have been established for many years.
We know there are some excellent providers offering training in our sector, but collectively we felt there was an opportunity to offer practical support in growing and sustaining a grassroots service. The training modules we are creating are informed by and co-produced with VCS organisations in our community, to ensure they are relevant and topical. Please keep an eye on this space and we will update you on our training provision as it develops.
Whether you’re in the very early stages of growth or you’ve been established for years, we’re all part of a thriving grassroots perinatal mental health sector and feel there’s lots we can learn from each other if we come together.
Our intention is to help connect, support and celebrate services regardless of where you are on their journey.