Argyll Wellbeing Hub - together we are doing this

Since its formation in 2018 Argyll Wellbeing Hub (AWH), formerly known as Martyn's Monday Club, has gone from strength to strength - providing peer-to-peer support in Oban and the surrounding area.

 

"attachment_573400" "" "300"] The Argyll Wellbeing Hub showed its support by offering an afternoon tea at the 2021 Oban Pride. 20_T40_ObanPride2021_ArgyllWellbeingHub

 

Such is the magnitude of growth that in 2021 the charity employed two full-time service coordinators and boosted its team of volunteers to 16.

 

It has grown from two peer-to-peer support groups in 2020 to now running 35 support groups and formed a successful partnership with The Happy Wee Health Club.

 

Since January the charity has had 1,836 through its doors and a further 722 joining its walking groups.

 

Back in May, Hub co-founder Des MacMillan gave up his full-time job at sea to become a service co-ordinator for the organisation. He told us: 'This year has been special in so many ways for Argyll Wellbeing Hub and for me.

 

'Since starting the group with Billy Ferguson in 2018, I have dedicated all my time and efforts to make Oban and Argyll a suicide safer place and I feel that AWH is helping to do that.

 

'We as a charity have made 37 suicide interventions since starting out and for a small town that is extremely high. Thankfully everyone of these interventions has been successful and we have the persons involved still with us today.

 

'On the downside we have lost some to suicide in Oban and this drives us all on to stop that from happening again.'

 

Des admits that he could not do what he does without his own support network.

 

He added: 'I have been supported by my amazing family and friends to follow my passion and continue to do what we do here at AWH. I can’t thank them all enough, especially my wife Tina.

 

'So many great things have taken place in 2021 and we have even bigger plans for 2022 - this keeps that flame lit and the passion alive to grow and bring these suicide numbers down to zero.

 

'Our mantra is "together we can do this". This year has shown that to be so true, yet again, if it was not for the teamwork, support from our volunteers and the amazing support from other organisations and the community we would not be able to do what we do.

 

'I am proud to be supporting this community and I am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to do this.'

 

Joining Des on the payroll was Lorraine King who gave up her roll as a NHS vaccinator to take up her new post.

 

'We were very fortunate to receive Covid-related funding to employ two full-time service co-ordinators and I was delighted to come here and work alongside Des and help him develop the hub and the charity which has come a long way from his initial vision in 2018,' said Lorraine.

 

"attachment_565031" "" "300"] Some of the walkers who took part in Argyll Welbeing Hub's 'walk and talk' event in September. 20_T38_ArgyllWellbeingHub_SuicideAwarenessWalk1

 

Other positives for the charity this year has been the success of The Wee Walking Groups which began in May.

 

'We have had some great fun this year on the walks, and we have been raising awareness for many things through these,' explained Lorraine.

 

'Thanks go to our friends at Dunollie, who allow us use of its outdoor space for refreshments and chat afterwards.'

 

Other groups facilitated by AWH include peer support, menopause support, bereavement support, coffee and chat, craft groups and wellness events.

 

A great connection with the Oban High School means that AWH now has three groups of young adults per week for wellness and wellbeing workshops.

 

'We have grown from eight groups to 35 groups per month,' said Des. 'For AWH this is an amazing achievement and we are looking and listening to our members and the community to provide the support that is needed in Oban.'

 

The Kiltwalk proved another positive. The charity, its members and volunteers raised over £6,000.

 

"attachment_595479" "" "300"] Over 50 people turned out for Argyll Wellbeing Hub's Lost Hours Walk on Sunday, October 31. NO_T45_LostHoursWalk

 

The lost hours walk was a first for Oban and 50 supporters of AWH walked the hour from 1-2am on Sunday October 31.

 

Des concluded: 'The last thing I need to say is a massive thank you to everyone who has done some form of fundraising for us.

 

'Without this none of what we do would be possible. It is a vital component to keeping any charity running and Lorraine and myself along with all the trustees and members thank you from the bottom of our hearts.'

 

Lorraine added: 'We would like to wish all our past and present members a safe and peaceful festive season.

 

'We will be here as normal running throughout the festivities so if anyone needs support we urge them to please reach out-either to us, their GP, to a friend or loved one or to a helpline.

 

'This can be a difficult time of year for many people, and we want to say that with the right support things will get better.

 

'We see people’s lives getting better every week at our groups simply because people took that first step and reached out for help.

 

'We are looking forward to an exciting 2022, we have some new plans in the pipeline, and we look forward to working with more local partners and to supporting more of our local community.

 

'We truly believe that together we can do this.'