“An essential part of the Dorchester community” says Dorchester Mayor after visiting local Community Front Room

Dorchester’s Community Front Room has received a visit from the Mayor and Mayoress of Dorchester in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week.  

Mental Health Awareness Week runs annually each May and aims to highlight the importance of good mental health, challenges stigma and promotes practical actions people can take to support their own wellbeing. 

The Community Front Room (CFR) hosted a free drop-in event on Friday 15th May to encourage the local community to engage with practical coping and support techniques, assisted by non-clinical practitioners and peers with lived experience.  

The Mayor and Mayoress took part in several activities hosted at the drop-in, such as creating handy coping cards, while the team highlighted the vital importance of the service for the residents of Dorchester to live well. 

Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Andy Canning, said “The Mayoress of Dorchester and I were honoured to be invited to the Community Front Room event in support of Mental Health Awareness Week. We would encourage anyone who is struggling with their mental health to attend. A service like this is an essential part of the Dorchester community and I implore those in the area to take advantage of the friendly, knowledgeable and supportive team who are available right on the high street.”  

Based on 19 High East Street, the CFR offers a safe and welcoming environment for those needing support for their mental health, open to all who live in Dorset and are aged over 18. Curated around the idea of being a neighbourhood front room, the space is friendly and non-clinical. 

Natasha Lane, Senior Practitioner for the Community Front Room, said “We were so pleased to be able to host a visit from the Mayor and Mayoress of Dorchester. The team and I are so passionate about mental health and wellbeing, and being able to push the message that support is there for you, when you need it and when you are ready, is crucial to our community.” 

CFRs are provided by charitable housing association BCHA, which works in partnership with local charity Hope to run the Shaftesbury CFR, and local charity Burrough Harmony to deliver the Bridport CFR. 

All Community Front Rooms are open Thursday-Sunday, 2.15-9.45pm offering face-to-face drop-ins. For those who cannot attend the service in person, you can attend virtually via Attend Anywhere, which you can access through the Dorset Healthcare website.