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Buckinghamshire Mind - For better mental health 0
 
The history of Bucks Mind, 1914 to 2006
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1914
The Association was established in Aylesbury as the Buckinghamshire Voluntary Association for the Care of the Mentally Defective. Its practical work was home visiting and education of the mentally handicapped.

1948
The Association changed its name to Bucks Association for Mental Welfare and agreed to provide services for patients suffering from mental illness.

1953
The First Evening Social Club for the mentally handicapped opened at the Bierton Hill Centre in Aylesbury.

1971
Social Clubs - 71 Club for lonely and depressed - drop-in club in Aylesbury. This was the first club for the lonely and depressed and encouraged a broad and non-specific membership. Later renamed the "82 Club" this facility remained open until May 1999.

1972
Another name change to The Buckinghamshire Association for Mental Health (BAMH) a name that identified the revised objective of providing services for the mentally ill. The work undertaken by the Association changed from training and education of mentally handicapped to providing social contact and support for mentally ill in the community. Milton Keynes and Bletchley formed its own Mental Health Association supported by the new town development.

1973
Group Homes opened in Aylesbury, Booker, Buckingham, Chesham, High Wycombe and Wendover. By 1980 BAMH had established 6 group homes offering places for 24 residents.

1974
Clubs for the Elderly Mentally Frail - Park and Pippin Clubs opened in Chesham and Prestwood.

1983
Windmills Club opened at St. Mary's Church, Aylesbury.

1988
Wycombe and District BAMH Group was established later to become an independent body, Wycombe MIND in 1990.

1989
BAMH Day Workshops Started - Subjects include Assertion, Stress, Personal Effectiveness, Depression, Anger and Forgiveness. The Counselling Services have continued to provide an extensive programme of courses.

1989
Publication of Quarterly Newsletter with contributions by service users. This is circulated to members, other voluntary organisations and members of the general public keeping them informed on mental health matters.

1989
BAMH Chesham and Amersham Group was formed and provided a service in that area until it closed in 1996.

1989
South Bucks Development Officer appointed to establish a Counselling Service in High Wycombe.

1990
Wycombe Counselling Service opened in July with a team of twelve trained volunteers who provided the counselling.

1990
The Dove Centre opened to provide a counselling and information service for the Aylesbury area with offices in the Greenhill United Reformed Church at Rickfords Hill.

1991
St. John's Hospital, Stone - the main psychiatric hospital for Buckinghamshire closed its doors after 138 years. Smaller psychiatric units at the Tindal Centre in Aylesbury and the Haleacre Unit in Amersham were opened. "Care in the Community" continued to develop throughout the county.

1991
BAMH Community Care Ltd. Established and covenanted to the charity.

1991
Sun House Resource Centre, Chesham purchased by BAMH to provide a base for the Park Club and adult day services. Successful and on-going fund raising has taken place to enable an extensive refurbishment programme to be carried out.

1992
Wycombe Counselling Service moved to premises at 46 St. Mary Street leased from Wycombe District Council. A refurbishment programme was undertaken.

1996
Drop-in Clubs and Day Services for adult mentally ill under threat of closure - Campaigning saved all except Bridges in Buckingham which closed in October due to lack of funding.

1997
Change in Management Structure - giving a devolved chain of command and responsibility.

1998
Wycombe Counselling Service - move to new premises at 260 Desborough Road, rented from Wycombe District Council.

1998
BAMH Head Office - moves from The Tindal Centre to alternative premises at 4 Manor House Close, Aylesbury.

1999
The Dove Centre - co-locates with Head Office at 4 Manor House Close with a considerable savings in overheads and providing a more congenial environment for the counselling service.

1999
The "82 Club" and the Aylesbury "Tuesday Club" closed due to increase in supervision requirements and lack of funding.

2000
Counselling Contracts - On-going contracts for Counselling services negotiated with Local Authorities, Voluntary and Commercial Organisations.

2001
Aylesbury Clubs - Closure of both the Windmills and Portway Clubs which have been amalgamated in the Wings Day Centre at Granville Street Evangelical Church.

2002
BAMH Head Office and The Dove Centre - relocate to much larger premises at 4 Temple Street, Aylesbury where the number of Counselling Rooms are increased from 3 to 7. Counselling Services for both Couples and 16-18 year olds introduced.
Lanterns Club - relocates to superior premises at the Gold Hill Baptist Church, Chalfont St Peter.

2003
Befriending Scheme – funded by Bucks County Council for a three year period to set up and run a county-wide Befriending Scheme.
Quality Standards introduced in BAMH.

2006
The Buckinghamshire Association for Mental Health becomes Buckinghamshire Mind and takes on a new corporate identity, to align ourselves more clearly with the national charity Mind, whose aims and objectives we endorse.

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Buckinghamshire Mind is a registered charity (1103063), a company limited by guarantee (5000185), and is affiliated to Mind. As a member of BACP we are bound by its ethical framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy, and subject to the professional conduct procedure therein.