SMILE Launch

We’ve officially launched our SMILE – Southampton Mental Illness Lived Experience – group this month (November 2025).

SMILE is part of our Network, which is a Southampton City Council and NHS endorsed, and part of our mission to bring people together to create welcoming spaces for discussion and to improve understanding.

Help make a difference

Co-founding member of the Network and one of the SMILE group leaders, Saire Herschel-Clark, says: “We recently launched SMILE officially, after setting it up a while ago and having a period of inactivity while we got our organisation together. SMILE is not a support group but aims to provide people with lived experience the opportunity to feedback and use their experience to help make a difference.

“We had a great turnout for our launch earlier in November. There were lots of yummy refreshments thanks to CommuniBakes bakery in Shirley, lively discussions, socialising and networking too.”

Saire also spoke about the origin of the group, then our Trustee, David Cowley spoke about the future of SMILE.

Stars for Stars Attendees also heard about our Stars for Stars project, which was conceived by Saire as a way of awarding businesses, organisations and individuals in the city, nominated by the public, with stars when for their positive and kind approach to mental health. Nomination can be made for this current quarter. Please nominate them here!

Saire adds: “I would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who worked so very hard to make our SMILE launch event such a huge success; with special thanks going to all our attendees and Southampton Mental Health Network Coordinator, Chloe. We hope to see more people with lived experience at our next event and going forward – taking our lead from Southampton Mental Health Network, we know we’re better together.

Next meeting

“We are now looking forward to seeing anyone who would like to join us at our next meeting on Monday, November 24. Carl Adams, Head of People Participation from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, will be coming to talk about exploring mental healthcare research and service improvements. Anyone who would like to attend, please get in touch via smhn@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.”

Annie Clewlow, Manager at Communicare in Southampton, one of Southampton Mental Health Network’s founding organisations, says: “We had such great attendance for the launch of SMILE and it’s heartening to see more of our activities and events being valued and supported.

How to join us

“We’re always looking at ways we can collectively collaborate to help make our city a happier place where everyone can thrive. Anyone, aged 18 plus, living or working within postcodes SO14-19 and representatives of organisations supporting residents or those working in the city of Southampton can join our Network for an annual membership fee of just £2 per person.”

Join us today!

Photo taken with thanks to Tim Kenyon Photography.