Bringing SEL Mind together: how 15Hatfields helped unite mental health staff

We were delighted to help South East London (SEL) Mind staff and volunteers come together for the first time following their expansion to serve the five boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

Aptly entitled 'Connect', the event on 17 October 2024 saw 170 incredibly hardworking staff from over 30 vital on‑the‑ground mental health and dementia services unite for a day of shared learning and networking while having fun.

Objective

Following a merger that saw Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich Mind join forces with Lambeth and Southwark Mind, it was important to bring all SEL Mind staff together to build connections while recognising and celebrating their incredible work supporting local people experiencing mental health problems and dementia.

The biennial event required a plenary space for the morning for various presentations including an address from SEL Mind’s CEO, Ben Taylor, and then additional break out rooms/spaces to give staff the opportunity to meet people from other boroughs and services in the afternoon. The event was made even more special thanks to the presence of actor and writer Cush Jumbo OBE, the official celebrity ambassador of SEL Mind.

Ben Taylor, Chief Executive, SEL Mind, said:

“It’s crucial to recognise and celebrate the incredible work that our staff members do in supporting local people experiencing mental health problems and dementia. By providing a supportive and encouraging environment, we can empower our staff to continue making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.”

Execution

The busy programme saw many of our flexible and contemporary spaces being used to great effect. Our ground floor Elements Suite (created by combining Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sustain) was utilised with cabaret-style seating for the morning plenary. The afternoon’s series of concurrent workshops covering sign language, seated yoga, meditation, Mexican Mariachi, Latin music and a performance poet were hosted in the handily partitionable Fire, Sustain and Earth spaces, as well as Renew, and the lower-ground Hydro, Thermal, Bio and Eco rooms.

Penny Grosett, Communications Manager, SEL Mind, said:

“We designed the workshop offer specifically to fit/work with the breakout spaces at 15Hatfields. It was excellent to be able to partition the main room to make more spaces possible.”

To keep everyone fuelled the SEL Mind staff enjoyed a hot bowl lunch that included Jerk Chicken, Veggie Thai Curry and Chicken Korma. Penny added:

“The catering offer was excellent. We were kindly given a free upgrade to hot bowl food and were allowed to choose more options than usual for our attendees, to support the successful delivery of our event. The team’s attentive inclusive approach including the ratio of vegan/vegetarian dishes as well as halal food is very refreshing. It was excellent to have large screens displaying the menus.”

The event came to life with our state-of-the-art AV provision including a dedicated technician to ensure all requirements were delivered seamlessly. Penny said:

“It exceeded our expectations. We had multiple screens on different walls in the main Elements Suite – meaning attendees didn’t need to turn their chairs to have a clear view while screens in the lower-ground Ozone room were an additional bonus so we could play a creative slideshow during breaks. The technician was also a great help, allowing us to not have to worry about any potential AV glitches.”

Meanwhile our Southbank location – easily accessible from mainline stations including London Waterloo, London Blackfriars and Southwark Underground Station – was used to maximum effect. Penny added:

“To be a few minutes’ walk away from the River Thames was a real bonus as we knew it could offer an additional option for our afternoon activities. 15Hatfields’ sustainable credentials also influenced our choice of venue as it is very much in line with our organisational values and our commitment to sustainability goals. We promoted this aspect in our staff communications about the venue.”

Results

Penny believes SEL Mind will “absolutely” use 15Hatfields again and we can’t wait to host them. Penny said:

“15Hatfields ticked many of the boxes for us: we needed a venue in a central location, in our boroughs, large enough to host all attendees (up to 220-230) in one main room, then with additional breakout rooms/spaces as well as the bonus two small rooms which we could dedicate to a prayer room and a quiet room. Pricing is one of the main factors for us being a local charity, 15Hatfields provided fair value for the offer.”

“The team were consistently excellent throughout our booking – answering all queries quickly, accommodating multiple visits to the venue and then on the night before, and day of event – they were just excellent. Any requests we made were fulfilled and the staff on the day were on top of all of our requirements. They supported us in making our day run smoothly, which was very reassuring given the scale and importance of our event. Thanks again to everyone involved.”