Promoting positive Mental Health & Wellbeing, fighting issues of loneliness & stigma in Nottingham.

NFOW is a peer led project which helps people struggling with their mental health. Our groups & activities help people overcome the loneliness, isolation, stigma & discrimination of mental illness.

Why are we needed, now more than ever?

As more mental health services are being cut or rationed; the impact of loneliness, financial hardship, and welfare cuts are proven to impact both physical and mental health. The work of NFOW is becoming even more important. Nottingham is in the top 10 of local authority areas ranked by Indices of Multiple Deprivation (eg education, employment, income, health.), according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, English Indices of Deprivation 2019.

You can self-refer into NFOW, you don’t need a health care professional to act as a middle person.

  • MENTAL HEALTH

    One adult in six has a common mental disorder (CMD): about one woman in five and one man in eight. Since 2000, overall rates of CMD in England steadily increased in women and remained largely stable in men.

    (Adult Psychiatry Study - 2014)

  • DEPRESSION

    In autumn 2022, around 1 in 6 (16%) adults experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms; this is similar to rates found in summer 2021 (17%), however it is higher than pre-pandemic levels (10%).

    (Office for National Statistics - 2022)

  • STIGMA

    Claimants of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), a benefit aimed at those unable to work due to poor health or disability, experienced particularly high rates of all the common mental disorders assessed.

    (Our Psychiatric Future - 2018)

  • At Nottingham Focus On Wellbeing (NFOW), the groups and activities we offer are informed by our own experiences of poor mental health and wellbeing.

  • We understand that mental health fluctuates so we do not ration our services, you can attend for as long as you need - nor do we cut you off if you are not well enough to attend for a period of time.

  • Mental health provision (NHS and Social Services) is in a critical condition. Patients are being discharged from services before they are ready and often against their will.

  • Originally founded from the remnants of NHS and statutory mental health services, the project is open to anyone in the community who feels they may benefit from any of the activities we offer.

Make a donation.

We need YOUR kindness and generosity to continue helping those who need us in Nottingham.