GOING 360 FOR A SAFE SPACE
A mental health charity has officially opened its bright, cosy and welcoming new space – which will play host to a ‘public living room’.
Three Sixty has opened its new hub ‘The Place’ on Ayr’s Newmarket Street, providing a range of activities, sessions and workshops to anyone struggling with their mental wellbeing.
From creative writing, to weaving, crafting and art, The Place is the place to learn, share skills and connect with others.
The Place – which was transformed by crafting firm Iver & Earth – is also available to book for a variety of events and workshops with paid and ‘pay it forward’ options.
Service Manager Alison Findlay said: “We’re absolutely aware of the mental health pressures on everybody, for a variety of reasons.
“There’s so many roads that bring people to their mental health being compromised.
“We’re just trying to find different routes where folk can engage.
“What we see and have experienced is once people are engaged in an activity or in a group – or even connecting with other people – then that can help folk start working through whatever is going on in their life.
“It can just bring a whole different perspective to your world.”
The Place will open up as a ‘Public Living Room’ – an international initiative set up by the Camerados Movement, which encourages people to connect and help others in their community.
Alison said: “It’s about recognising that sitting down and having a blether can be very, very good for your mental health regardless of where you’re coming from.
“Just having that space where you can sit, take five minutes, no agenda and have a chat with somebody next to you.
“Our members could pop in but equally Mrs Smith, for example, who’s wandering down Newmarket Street could come in and just have a 10 minute blether.”
Three Sixty, formerly called Ayr Action for Mental Health, also deliver various sessions in villages and towns throughout South Ayrshire, areas that sometimes “otherwise miss out,” said Alison.
She added: “We’ll still be out in the communities with a timetable of activities, that we update regularly.
“This new space is for the whole community – it’s not just for those with a mental health diagnosis, it’s for anybody and everybody.”