Our winter quarter Stars for Stars

Back in October, we invited people to put forward those creating kind environments and promoting good mental health.

Our Administrator, Chloe, explains: “Each quarter, we invite nominations for businesses, charities, organisations and individuals who Southampton residents, and anyone working in the city, believe deserve one of our Stars for Stars.

Worthy recipients

“We’ve completed our second set of nominations and from these have several worthy recipients including Southampton City Mission, Re:Minds, Make and Brew, the Round About Café in Mansbridge, St Christopher’s Church Thornhill, Southampton Central Library, Board in the City, VIP Empowerment with Vie and Oasis Southampton City Farm. This time we also received nominations for a handful of individuals who nominators feel are making a real difference in our city. They’re Hannah Tilley a Farm Youth Lead at Southampton City Farm and Michelle Wheeler, Social Prescriber, Walnut Tree Surgery, as well as members of the public: Betty Harmer and Tess Ward. We had a lovely selection and we’re very grateful to those who took the time to make nominations.”

Positive difference

We heard about how Oasis Southampton City Farm creates a safe, supportive and uplifting environment, especially for people facing mental health challenges and how Michelle Wheeler at Walnut Tree Surgery provided moral, psychological, emotional and practical support during an extremely difficult period in someone’s life.

Tom Kitcher Farm Manager, Oasis Southampton City Farm, says:

“This recognition means a huge amount to our team. Everyone at Southampton City Farm – our volunteers and staff – puts real care and energy into building genuine connections with the people who come through our gates. Knowing that our efforts make a positive difference to people’s mental health is incredibly meaningful and it motivates us to keep showing up for our community and growing this support together.”

Inclusive & welcoming

We also heard how Round About Café, Mansbridge was an inclusive, welcoming community space, where staff and volunteers foster connection and belonging and how VIP Empowerment with Vie helps mainly women and young people embrace and love who they are, promoting self-esteem and personal empowerment.

Hayley Binstead, Managing Director of Board in the City, which was also a winner and the venue for our award presentation and photograph, says:

“It is a joy to be recognised for all that we do, not that we do it for recognition of course. We always say that the feeling of support happens just by walking through the door – it is not tangible. Also, by working together with Southampton Mental Health Network and others who truly advocate for a fairer mental health world – we are a step closer to this being the norm.”

Positive impact

Another recipient this quarter was Re:Minds – it was recognised for supporting mental wellbeing, with the nominator highlighting the organisation’s positive impact.

Angi Carey, Deputy CEO says:

“Re:Minds is delighted to have been nominated for a Stars for Stars Award. After a decade of providing peer-led services and support for families across Southampton, this recognition means a great deal to us. We are deeply grateful to whoever put our name forward.”

How Stars for Stars began

The Stars for Stars initiative was conceived by our co-founding member, and the first leader of its SMILE (Southampton Mental Illness Lived Experience) group, Saire Herschel-Clark. Find out more here.

How to nominate for this quarter

We’re now asking people to get in touch to put forward anyone they think deserves a star in the February to April quarter.

We have Stars for Stars details on our website news area where people can fill in and submit a brief form, or people can get in touch to receive one, to explain why they have nominated a particular business or person for their star quality. Please nominate them here!

Each awarded star lasts for a year and would need to be nominated again 12 months after the initial allocation. Visits and star allocations are free and being a member of Southampton Mental Health Network is not a qualifying factor for being considered for the scheme.

We will however provide brief Stars for Stars guidelines, which will be shared with recipients, on how stars can be displayed and mentioned in print, on websites and in social media. Our stars will be designed up to include the date when presented too.

Photo taken with thanks to Tim Kenyon Photography.