About us
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
There are just under 5,000 dedicated members of staff delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering a region of 2,200 miles. AWP has approximately 150 teams and our services support a population of around 1.8 million people.
Together we share the drive and commitment to provide high quality, compassionate care. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can enhance service users’ experiences, support their recovery and raise awareness of mental health across our communities.
We’re constantly inspired and proud of the remarkable teams at AWP and we know our supporters feel the same.
So, whether you are donating, thanking, celebrating, commemorating, running, jumping or just going the extra mile, you can make a really important contribution today.
Our mission
Our mission is simple, to make life better for people facing mental health problems. One in every four people in the UK experiences a mental health problem each year, and we believe that mental health is every bit as important as physical health.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can enhance service users’ experiences, support their recovery and raise awareness of mental health across our communities.
Our aims
The strategic aims of our projects are guided by our service users, their carers and families, and AWP staff. We aim to:
Enhance our care environments
We make wards and settings more pleasant, comfortable and welcoming to help our service users relax. We provide specially adapted equipment and advanced facilities in settings for dementia, learning disabilities and other specific needs.
Provide additional recreational and therapeutic activities
Gardening, music, animal care and many other activities are key in helping people recover their mental wellbeing, keep active, rediscover enjoyment in hobbies, socialise and relax. We provide a range of opportunities to do this which wouldn't otherwise be possible from NHS funding.
Raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health problems
We go beyond treatment and work alongside NHS teams in schools, workplaces and local community groups to raise awareness of mental illness so that everyone can seek help and find the support they need.
Find new ways to improve services
NHS staff have a huge amount of energy, passion and experience, and we provide backing for them to test new concepts that promise to improve the way we help service users. By gathering evidence and creating, sharing and learning from best practice, these projects help to shape the future of mental healthcare in our Trust and beyond.
Our charitable model is to raise money to fund worthwhile projects within AWP, and staff can apply for funding to turn their ideas into reality. Please contact us to find out more about how to apply.
During the COVID pandemic, the majority of our funding came from the NHS Charities Together grants. The huge support from national fundraising efforts, including Captain Sir Tom Moore’s sponsored walk, helped fund some fantastic wellbeing projects to support staff and service users across the Trust.
Staff chill out rooms
Our staff chill out areas across the Trust have been improved thanks to funding. These rooms now benefit from various items to boost the specific wellbeing needs of staff, including comfortable seating and coffee machines.
Gym equipment
Funding has helped provide new gym equipment for different sites across the Trust. Case studies have shown us that physical and mental wellbeing can be greatly improved when staff have access to gym equipment, and regular exercise helps to reduce stress, anxiety and improve self-esteem. The equipment provides a focus, structure and goal to exercise, as well as increasing enjoyment and motivation.
Christmas cheer
Funds have helped Headlight provide extra festive sparkle to brighten the Christmas period for inpatients of the Trust. For example, service users at one of our hospitals have benefited from small gifts, festive food treats and décor thanks to funding.
Amblescroft South Gardening Project
Amblescroft South has been supporting more patients with functional illness, such as depression and psychosis. We recognise the benefits of nature for service users, which is why we have used funding to create a walled garden adjoining the main lounge area.
‘Headlight’ means Headlight Mental Health Charity, registered charity number 1056576 in England and Wales, previously known as Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Charitable Fund. Our registered offices are based at AWP Mental Health NHS Trust, Bath NHS House, Newbridge Hill, Bath BA1 3QE.
