Sewerby WI

Never has looking after our mental health been so important as in these unprecedented times and so Sewerby WI, in conjunction with Rachel Marson the Wellbeing Adviser at their local Bridlington hospital, were delighted to work on a project to create furnishings for a ‘Wellbeing Room’ that was being planned.

The room is designed for those members of staff who need to just take time out for five minutes, de-stress and refocus. The room is an aid in dealing with the enormous pressure these frontline workers face and to support their mental wellbeing. It is known as "the wobble room" and these rooms are currently being rolled out across the country. The project was also a practical opportunity for members to focus on and a boost for their own mental wellbeing. More importantly, with an ongoing focus on the mental wellbeing of NHS staff, the room is a lasting legacy within the community hospital.

Sewerby WI President Ann Mitchell is immensely proud of how in two weeks her WI came together to create:

• Throws from the president's recycled bedspread
• Cushions from a brand new fleece dressing gown
• Knitted and fabric hearts and bunting from members' craft stash
• A Sunflower with a positive message in its heart from Sewerby WI members. This was also a perfect opportunity to use the "Thank You NHS"-note that came in the May/June issue of WI Life. All to be pinned up on the "Positive Messages from the Community" notice board in the Wellbeing Room

To encourage NHS staff to take a look at the room so that they knew where it was should they need it, Ann decided WI baking was needed! So the call went out to all members to provide cakes and savouries for a mini opening of the room – as always they came up trumps. In particular, member Natalie decided to make a two-tier vanilla and chocolate cake in pale green and white with white and purple flowers.

As Ann is a Key Worker in a local primary school which has stayed open for the vulnerable and key workers' children in their town, she was able to collect the items and deliver them along with their Welsh cake baker extraordinaire member, Wendy.

Following a successful handover, here is just some of the feedback received thanking the WI from the hospital’s Wellbeing Adviser Rachel Marson:

"I think we are all still slightly in shock regarding the generosity of Sewerby WI. I can't believe the time and effort that all the ladies have devoted to us - it is truly heart-warming. The cakes and craft items far exceeded anything we could have expected. It has been a boost to all our staff."