Stars for Stars!

Nominate a business or individual for our Stars for Stars scheme

We’re launching a scheme to award stars to Southampton businesses and individuals that show they are mental health friendly.

If you live or work in the city, we’re asking you to nominate companies and people you feel go above and beyond to create kind environments and to promote good mental health.

Saire’s stars

Spearheading the initiative is our co-founding member, and the first leader of its SMILE (Southampton Mental Illness Lived Experience) section, Saire Herschel-Clark.

She says: “I first thought of the idea of awarding businesses and individuals in the city with stars when I needed help during an episode at Sainsbury’s in Portswood last year. Staff were so kind and accommodating.

“The experience was so reassuring I thought that if other businesses did the same, I’d feel more confident being out and about and I could also recommend them to friends and other members of SMILE and Southampton Mental Health Network too.

Positive & kind approach

“After discussing it further with the Network’s Trustees, everyone thought it was a great idea to create an official scheme where people could nominate businesses, places and even individuals who they thought deserved praise for their positive and kind approach to mental health and were beacons for fostering good mental well-being in Southampton.

“To launch our Stars for Stars initiative, we’ve given our first award to the Make & Brew community café in Shirley. It was nominated by several of our members for creating a kind, accepting and welcoming space.”

How it works

Each awarded star lasts for a year and would need to be reassessed 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.

Nominate here!

If you have had a positive experience, and would like to nominate a company or individual to receive a star, you can nominate them here

Like to join us

If you’re not a member, it’s very easy to join us. Membership costs just £2 per year.