Looking After Yourselves - services, courses, things to do and more

Date: 13th June (Friday)

Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm BST

Location: Wimbledon Guild, Morden

**Please note - advanced booking essential

For more information and to book your place call 020 8946 0735 or email activities@wimbledonguild.co.uk

Wellbeing for Carers Online workshop

This workshop focuses on the importance of taking care of yourself whilst caring for others. Join our wellbeing practitioners, along with other carers, to explore ways to take care of your own mental health and wellbeing whilst caring for others.

Date: 10th June 2025 (Tuesday)

Time: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm BST

Location: Online

**Please note

This workshop is for Merton residents (18+) only, or those who are registered with a Merton GP.

To know more & register - Click here

Living well with Pain Wellbeing Workshop (Online)

A free NHS Wellbeing Workshop from Merton Talking Therapies exploring the impact of pain on our mental health and strategies for living well

Date: 24th June, Tuesday

Time: 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm BST

Location: Online

**Please note:

This Free Wellbeing workshop is ONLY for residents of the London Borough of Merton or those registered with a Merton GP who are over the age of 18.

To know more & register - Click here

Coping with Stress - Online Wellbeing Workshop

This workshop focuses on the importance of managing stress effectively and identifying the physical and psychological impacts of stress.

Date: 30th June (Monday)

Time: 12:00 pm to 13:30 pm BST

Location: Online

**Please note:

This workshop is for Merton residents (18+) only, or those who are registered with a Merton GP

To know more & register - Click here

Have your say

Patient experience library 

The Patient Experience Library is an online portal that has all the patient experience evidence, coming from national patient surveys, patient voice organisations, health charities, academic institutions, policy think tanks and more, in one place with free search and unlimited downloads.  

Customised versions enable you to create your own library for your own needs. 

Do you know of a report on patient experience that patients and professionals should be reading?

If you do, and you'd like it uploaded to the Patient Experience Library send an email to info@patientlibrary.net 

To access the Patient Experience Library - Click here

Merton Armed Forces Day Parade 2025

Date: 28th June (Saturday)

Time: 11 am

Location: Assemble at 11 am by the Royal British Legion in Mitcham

The Event is being held to recognise and celebrate the greatly valued contribution made by the Armed Forces community – including currently serving troops, Service families, veterans, reservists and cadets.

We encourage all residents to join us in showing our appreciation and help give a morale boost to all personnel and their families who are serving to keep our country safe. Residents are invited to both join in the parade and watch from the side-lines

Gary Baker will be the Parade Master for Merton. The route will be clearly marked and there will be some road closures in place.

The parade is to assemble at St Marks Road in Mitcham at 11am by the Royal British Legion (and proceed to lane 1 of London Road (closed to traffic). Then head south to Upper Green East, turn left onto the main road and cross onto Canons Park to finish.

A dais will be erected to present and perform the salute before the roundabout · At the end of the Parade there will be stalls in the Fair Green area including local businesses and caterers. There is to be a host of attractions in the park for people to enjoy following the ceremony, including entertainments and refreshments

All Healthwatch Merton’s Veterans from our Armed Forces Veteran Project are cordially invited. Contact pat@healthwatchmerton.co.uk for more details.

Veterans Community Choir

At the Veterans Community Choir, our focus is on making music accessible to all—whether you're a seasoned singer or just want to join in the fun.

We perform a wide variety of music, from classic favourites and military anthems to popular tunes. You don’t need to sing perfectly in tune—just show up, be part of the experience, and feel the music lift your spirits.

• Who can join? Veterans, civilians, anyone aged 18-99!
• Can I play an instrument? Absolutely! We encourage instrumentalists to join in.
• What do we sing? A mix of popular songs, classics, and military tunes

Date: Every Sunday

Time: 3:00 pm onwards

Location: 30 St Mary’s Road, Wimbledon SW19 7BP (Buses 93 ,200 or 493 all within a 5-minute walk)

If you are a veteran with access needs, we have limited funding available to support you with transport to and from sessions - please email Nicky Winter at veteranscommunitychoirs@outlook.com

Royal British Legion - Coffee Hub

Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday

Time: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm 

Location:  Royal British Legion, 26 St. Marks Road, Mitcham, CR4 2LF

Military banter and bap 

An opportunity to meet others in the community and share stories while having a cuppa and the famous breakfast butties

Date: First Saturday of every month

Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 

Location: The Morden Brook, Lower Morden

Veterans Breakfast 

Join in a relaxed and accessible environment for Veterans and serving armed forces members to enjoy breakfast and a chat. 
 

Date: First Monday of the month

Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Cherry Red records stadium, Plough Lane, Wimbledon

Boxing for Female Veterans and women partners of Veterans 

Date: Every Thursday 

Time: 10:30 am to 11:15 am 

Location: Morden Parish Church Hall
(next to Haig Housing Green Lane Morden)

For more details email Emma on e.fitzjohn@googlemail.com or just come along!!

Do you have a veteran specific event that you would like to have added to this E-Bulletin? 

If so please email Pat at pat@healthwatchmerton.co.uk 

Can help to connect you to the support you need in your community.

If you, or someone you know, needs help please email help@mertoncommunityhub.org.uk or call 0208 066 4086, between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

For more info, Click Here

Help with the cost of living - The cost of living is an urgent problem for many Merton residents.

For guidance and support, please Click Here

Other News/Reports/Opportunities and Other Bulletins

Young responders programme 

Young Responders is a free programme organised by St. Johns Ambulance that teaches young people aged 11-25 ‘Street First Aid’.

The session covers topics and techniques such as:

1. How to notice the signs and symptoms of drug, alcohol and vape spiking and how to put someone in the recovery position and keep them safe until emergency services arrive.
2. How to deal with a stab wound and catastrophic bleed, using just what they have on them.
3. The importance of CPR and when / how to perform it.
4. Reflective conversation around mental health / emotions that come with traumatic events and where can young people find support.

They conduct 60, 90 and 120 minute sessions with an ideal class size of 8-30 participants. 

If you would like to organise such an event for a young peoples group that you are a part of please email info@healthwatchmerton.co.uk and we can assist you. 

ADHD diagnosis life-changing but long waits on the NHS need urgent action

New poll of 2,579 adults in England highlights that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis can change people’s lives. Yet long waits for assessments put people with suspected ADHD off seeking professional care.

To read more - Click here

How volunteering makes a difference (Blog)

Across England our volunteers are making a difference to services in their local communities every day. Hear their reasons for volunteering and the difference they feel they are making for their community.

To read more - Click here

Four things people want from the 10-Year NHS Plan

The Government has promised to put in place a 10-Year Health Plan to fix the NHS in England. We have outlined the four things that matter most to you and how they should shape the 10-Year Plan.

To read more - Click here