North London NHS Foundation Trust sent this bulletin at 30-05-2025 03:47 PM BST
Letter to service users and carers
May 2025
Dear All,
I hope this message finds you well and that you’ve had a chance to enjoy some of the sunshine we’ve been treated to recently. There’s something about the longer days and lighter evenings that can lift spirits and bring a renewed sense of energy. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a chat with a neighbour, or simply opening a window to let in the breeze, I hope you’re finding small moments of calm and connection.
As always, I want to remind you that you are not alone. We are here for you, every day, in every season. If you or someone you care for needs additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Trust contact. We’re here to listen, to help, and to walk alongside you.
Since I last wrote to you, a lot of positive activities have taken place at the Trust. We also have more coming up soon and I will let you know how you can get involved.
If there’s something you’d like to see covered in a future edition, please do let your Trust contact know.
NLFT celebrates Mental Health Awareness Week
This month, we celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme for this year is 'Community', and the aim was to celebrate the power and importance of community.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and give us a sense purpose.
To celebrate this week at our Trust, we spotlighted our community services teams to celebrate and recognise the amazing work colleagues do in the community across the five boroughs we serve. You may spot some familiar faces when you read about them here.
Our community teams are fundamental to everything we do. They are out there every day, quietly and compassionately helping people when our service users and their families may feel like they’re falling apart. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to celebrate them and the deep connections they build – because that is what community is really about.
Framework for Integrated Community Care receives excellent feedback
The Interim Annual Review for the Framework for Integrated Community Care has returned some outstanding feedback of how our Trust and partners across North Central London are transforming care for young people and families.
The review shows that our teams are making a real difference across our boroughs, building on years of experience to support vulnerable young people in ways that are creative, compassionate, and connected.
Camden is teaming up with the Youth Safety Taskforce and working closely with parents—naturally and powerfully—to create safer spaces for young people.
Haringey is influencing real policy change through its work with other agencies, showing how this programme can shape the future of care.
Enfield is bringing joy and cultural understanding into its sessions with parents, while also working with housing charities to unlock more support.
Islington moved everyone with a powerful case study that reminded us all: strong relationships and cultural sensitivity are at the heart of healing.
This review means the Trust is listening, learning, and leading. It means your voices as service users and carers are helping us shape how care is delivered. Behind every service, there is a team working hard to make things better, more joined-up, and more human.
The review also recognised the emotional toll this work can take on our staff. That’s why supervision and reflective practice are built in, because caring for carers helps them care for you and gives everyone the best chance to thrive.
If you’re a young person, a parent, or a carer, this review means the people supporting you are listening, learning, and getting even better at what they do. They’re working across different services, including health, housing, youth work, to make sure no one falls through the cracks.
Working across so many teams is a challenge, but thanks to strong leadership and a clear vision, things are getting smoother. That means better care, more support, and a brighter future for everyone involved.
The Head of the Health and Justice Children's Programme at NHS England said it was a “privilege” to attend the review. This isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about real people making real change. So I would like to personally thank the staff, young people, parents and carers who have been part of this journey and continue to be so. You are making a big difference and helping us build
Enfield Drug and Alcohol Service to move to new location from 1 August 2025
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality care and support, the Enfield Drug and Alcohol Service will be relocating to a new permanent facility at the Old Court House on Windmill Hill in Enfield. This is a short walk from either Enfield Town or Enfield Chase overground stations.
Services will no longer be delivered at Claverings after Thursday 31 July 2025.
New Location: Old Court House Windmill Hill Enfield EN2 6SA
Please be assured that referrals into the service will remain unchanged during the move. The transition will not affect the referral process or any of the support we provide to our service users. We will also do everything we can to ensure each service user will continue to see their same key worker.
What Does This Move Mean for the Service?
The quality of care we provide will not be affected, and our dedicated staff will remain the same.
Our new building is a purpose-built facility, offering an even more peaceful and therapeutic setting designed to further enhance the recovery journey of our service users.
The new facility includes spaces built with increased privacy and confidentiality in mind and is well-located with excellent transport links.
This permanent move means we will no longer face the need for future relocations, providing greater stability for both staff and service users.
To read an FAQ document that we will regularly update as and when new questions arise, please click here please click here
We look forward to continuing to work with you to provide excellent care and support to those who need it most.
Islington Recovery Café
Islington Recovery Café is a safe, inviting, and inclusive space for individuals aged 18+ who are struggling to cope with their mental health and daily life.
On meeting with service users, they aim to support them to reduce their immediate anxiety and crisis.
Anyone over 18 who is struggling with their mental health can simply drop-in and receive support, as well as receive structured 1-to-1 sessions.
Charity football match to tackle stigma around men’s mental health
On Sunday 15 June, Barnet Talking Therapies is hosting a charity football match at the Silver Jubilee Stadium in Barnet, with the aim of helping to break down some of the stigma surrounding men’s mental health.
The event, ‘Kick Off the Stigma’, will be a charity football match that brings together service users, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) therapists, and local influencers from Barnet and Brent. The goal? To challenge the stigma men may face when seeking mental health support and to raise funds for local men's mental health charities.
Talal Alanizee, trainee cognitive behavioural therapist from our Barnet Talking Therapies service, said “I’ve seen firsthand how overlooked men’s mental health can be — even though the data tells us that men are more likely to experience mental health issues in silence and account for three-quarters of suicides. They are more likely to be sectioned, or end up in prison”
The event will take place at 2pm on Sunday 15 June at the Silver Jubilee Stadium in Barnet. The match will be “Barnet vs Brent”, featuring service users, therapists and community figures. You can buy a ticket here.
All proceeds will go toward local mental health support initiatives so please join us to raise awareness of men’s mental health!
New ADHD peer support group in Islington
From Tuesday 27 May, there will be an evidence-based peer support group running for service users, community members and staff with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
You do not need a formal diagnosis to take part.
What? The group is a partnership between ADHD Action Network and North London Foundation Trust. It provides the chance to meet others who struggle with ADHD, to share your experiences, network, and build a plan (from the latest research), inspiring one another to live your best life.
Attendees will learn tools for relationship-building, overcoming work challenges, and managing diet, exercise and sleep tips via a custom action plan within a supportive group setting.
Where and when? The group will run every Tuesday from 6.15 to 8pm at St Mary's Church on Upper Street, Islington (N1 2TX). The course will last for seven weeks, with the last session taking place on Tuesday 8 July.
It is free to attend, although donations are welcome.
Who? The group is open to any Trust service user, staff member, or member of the local community, but there are only 12 spaces, so register here to avoid missing out!
Please get in touch with your service contact if you ever feel in need of greater support. We are here to care for you. Please look after yourself and support those around you when possible.
