Mary Frances Trust

02/11/2026

For the man who’s been saying “I’m fine” when things haven’t felt fine lately…

This November, we’re making space for honest conversations about men’s mental health. Whether you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected or under pressure to keep everything together, you deserve support.

Here are 10 things to remember:

💙 You don’t have to wait until you’re at breaking point to ask for support. What you’re feeling matters now.
💙 Being the person everyone relies on doesn’t mean you don’t need someone too. You deserve to be asked how you’re doing.
💙 You can be grateful for your life and still find it hard. Struggling doesn’t make you ungrateful.
💙 Your worth isn’t measured by your salary, job title or how much you get done. You matter on the days you achieve very little, too.
💙 You don’t need the perfect words to start a conversation. “I haven’t been feeling like myself” is enough.
💙 Missing your mates is a good enough reason to message them. You don’t need an occasion to reconnect.
💙 Keeping busy can help, but you deserve space to check in with yourself too. How are you feeling when everything goes quiet?
💙 You’re allowed to be hurt by something you’ve never spoken about. Time passing doesn’t mean you should be “over it”.
💙 You can love the people around you and still need time for yourself. Having boundaries doesn’t mean you care any less.
💙 You don’t have to carry everything on your own. Letting someone in can start with one honest message.

Save this for a day when you need a reminder, or send it to someone who could use one.
And if that someone is you, you deserve the same care you give to others.

Looking for support? Join one of our men’s groups:

👉 Men’s Social Group - Online
On the 1 Tuesday of each month. From 7pm-8.30pm.
View poster:https://mft-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/content/uploads/2026/09/07141912/mens-social-group-online_updated-June-2026.pdf

👉 Men’s Peer Support Group – Face to Face
Weekly on Thursdays, from 7.30pm-8.30pm, in Leatherhead. View our poster:https://mft-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/content/uploads/2025/12/04113855/Mens-Peer-Support-Leatherhead-V2.pdf




[Image description: Text graphic ‘NOVEMBER IS MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH’ followed by text graphic reminders.]

30/10/2026

You’re not a burden, boo 👻

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIDE HOW YOU'RE FEELING TO PROTECT EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY "I'M FINE" TO МАКЕ EVERYONE ELSE COMFORTABLE.

NEEDING REASSURANCE DOESN'T MAKE YOU ANNOYING.

YOU'RE STILL WORTH SPENDING TIME WITH WHEN YOU'RE QUIET, TIRED OR HAVING A DIFFICULT DAY.

HAVING A HARD DAY DOESN'T UNDO THE PROGRESS YOU'VE MADE.

LETTING SOMEONE KNOW YOU'RE STRUGGLING GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO BE THERE FOR YOU.

🩵 SEND THIS TO A BOO WHO NEEDS REMINDING:

You matter to me.
You don't have to face this alone.



[Image description: Text graphic - You're not a burden, boo. With an illustration of a ghost.]

28/10/2026

World Mental Health Day may be over, but mental health support is needed every day.

As part of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign, Make Mental Health Matter, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to Cunningham Eves and The Jockey Club who both supported us with donations 💙

Their generosity and support mean so much to us. Every donation helps us continue providing free mental health and emotional wellbeing support to Surrey residents aged 16+, helping people access the support they need, when they need it.

From everyone at Mary Frances Trust, thank you for standing with us and helping to Make Mental Health Matter.

🫶 Together, we can help create a community where everyone feels heard, supported and valued.



[Image description: Text graphic that says: Thank you for making mental health matter.]

26/10/2026

Sometimes creating change means making sure someone has somewhere to turn 🩵

When you're experiencing a mental health crisis, knowing there is somewhere you can go can make all the difference.

In 2025–26, 1,062 people were supported by our Safe Haven in Epsom.

A place to talk.
A place to be heard.
A place to feel safe.
A place where someone can help you through the next few hours.

Behind that number are 1,062 people who had somewhere to turn when they needed support.

Because when you're struggling, having someone there to listen, without judgement, can mean so much.

That's what we mean by creating change together.

💚 Your donation helps us keep providing places where people can find support when they need it most. Be part of the change.

👉 Donate today: https://fundraising.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/fundraising/we-create-change-together



[Image description: Text graphic with a stat of the number of people our Safe Haven has supported in the last year.]

23/10/2026

A warm welcome to Nikki, our new Team Manager! 💙

Nikki joined Mary Frances Trust this October, leading our Social Prescribing, Recovery and Connect, and GPimhs Community Connectors teams from our Leatherhead office.

With over 30 years of clinical and management experience across Health and Social Care, Nikki brings a wealth of knowledge to MFT. Her career has spanned nursing, overseeing British Red Cross High Intensity Use projects, and managing services for adults and children with complex physical and mental health needs.

She shares our passion for person-centred support, tackling health inequalities and co-production — working alongside people to shape the support they receive.

Outside work, Nikki enjoys spending time with family, friends and her precious dog, Sammi. 🐾 She also loves cooking, reading, learning new things and keeping active, especially with a HIIT workout! Alongside this, she volunteers with a helpline and a local hospice.

‘Having worked across partnerships and transformation projects, I’m incredibly excited to be joining MFT because of their ambition, values and focus on collaboration and co-production.

The opportunity to learn from colleagues, share experience and contribute to improving health outcomes is something that I’m really looking forward to.’ - Nikki.

We’re delighted to have you on board, Nikki! Please join us in welcoming her to the MFT community 👋



[Image description: Picture of Nikki, our new Team Manager leading our Social Prescribing, Recovery and Connect, and GPimhs Community Connectors teams, with the title ‘Welcome to MFT’.]

22/10/2026

🏃 Take on the Surrey Half in 2027 and help support mental wellbeing in your local community.

At Mary Frances Trust, we believe everyone should have access to support for their mental health and somewhere they feel they belong.

We work alongside people across Surrey, offering one-to-one support, wellbeing groups, activities and opportunities to connect with others. Our services help people build confidence, develop tools to manage their mental health and find support through difficult times.

Fundraising helps us continue this work. By taking on the Surrey Half for MFT, you’ll help us respond to the needs of our community and support more people to feel heard, connected and less alone.

Whether you’re preparing for your first half marathon or working towards a personal best, this is an opportunity to turn a personal challenge into a positive difference for others.

💚 Run for yourself. Fundraise for your community.

Find out how to take part in the Surrey Half for Mary Frances Trust: https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/challenge-events/



[Image description: Picture of fundraisers running for MFT with the text ‘Fundraise for mental health’.]

21/10/2026

Our Coffee and Craft groups have been getting creative! 🎨🏡

Alongside beautiful artwork exploring the theme of tiny houses at Woodmansterne, our groups have been trying paper marbling, creating patterns as unique as the people making them.

Paint is mixed and poured into a marbling bath, where swirling patterns form before being carefully picked up on paper. Just like life, you can’t control exactly how it turns out, and that’s part of the magic 💙

The marbled creations will be used for another project in a couple of weeks. We can’t wait to see what they become!

These sessions offer a chance to explore something new, enjoy a chat and make time for creativity and connection.

Feeling inspired? Explore our free Community Connections activities in Surrey — a chance to discover a hobby, meet others and make time for your wellbeing.

👉 Find an activity for you: https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/community-connections/



[Image description: Pictures of tiny houses and paper marbling, created by clients at our Coffee and Craft groups.]

20/10/2026

ADHD can affect more than your attention…

It can mean feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks. Worrying about forgetting something important. Feeling exhausted from trying to keep up, or lonely when others don’t understand.

Over time, these experiences can affect your confidence, your relationships and how you feel about yourself.

Everyone’s experience of ADHD is different. But if any of this feels familiar, your feelings matter and you deserve understanding and support.

This ADHD Awareness Month, we’re reminding you to make space for your mental wellbeing, too. You don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable to reach out.

You deserve support and space to be yourself 💙

Connect with others at our free Neurodivergence Social Group.

💻 Online every Monday, 7pm–8.30pm

Find out more and register: https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/community-connections/



[Image description: Text graphic with a brain illustration and title: ADHD can affect more than your attention, followed by text slides with ways ADHD can affect your mental health.]

19/10/2026

What would you change about mental health support? 💙

For us, it’s a world where no one faces a mental health crisis alone. Where support is there when it’s needed, lived experience helps shape it, and everyone has somewhere to belong.

Big ambitions? Yes.

But together, we can help make them a reality.

Today, we’re launching We Create Change Together.

For more than 30 years, Mary Frances Trust has worked alongside people across Surrey to create change… in people’s lives, in our communities and across the mental health system.

Every member, volunteer, staff member, partner and supporter plays a part. And every donation helps us go further, responding to what people and communities need.

Over the next seven weeks, we’ll share the stories behind that change and the people who make it possible.

You can be one of them.

💙 Donate today and help us create more change, together: https://fundraising.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/fundraising/we-create-change-together

16/10/2026

Our October Newsletter is out! 🍁🍂

Discover how your support is helping people across Surrey find connection, confidence and hope, and celebrate the amazing people making a difference in their communities.

✨ Inside this issue:

💙 Turning lonely Saturdays into connection - discover how our Saturday Coffee & Social Group is building friendships and belonging.

💙 We Create Change Together - find out how MFT supports people when they need us most, and see how you can help us make a difference.

💙 Amazing fundraising achievements - celebrate some inspiring efforts from local schools and organisations.

💙 Easy ways to support MFT - from the Waitrose & Partners Green Token Scheme to Christmas shopping with Easyfundraising.

💙 A little bit of wellbeing inspiration - Nana from our Community Connections team shares a simple journaling tip to help clear your mind.

☕️ Grab a cuppa and dive in: https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/newsletters/october-2026/

Join our mailing list Subscribe Inspire October 2026 Edition Our Services What’s On Co-Production Volunteer Creating Change, Together. Together, we’re creating change – one person, one connection and one step at a time. Welcome to our latest newsletter! This month, we’re celebrating the incr...