Moodswings, an award winning Manchester based Charity..

Who we are and what we do..

Helping people recover from life’s ups and downs..

Moodswings is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, set up in 1999 to support people with mental health problems and their friends and family. All our services are provided free of charge to anyone who needs us and much of the work is done by volunteers. Each year we work with around 1200 people, of whom approximately a third are friends and family (carers).

Although we specialise in working with people with mood disorders, we provide support to people with any form of emotional distress.  All our work centres around recovery, by which we mean ‘living the best life you can with, or without, the symptoms of emotional distress’.  Our aim is to help people to have a better understanding of their symptoms, to train them to manage them and thereafter achieve the things they want in life regardless of their diagnosis.

Mental health problems can be overwhelming and it is sometimes impossible to see beyond the immediate distress.  At Moodswings we provide people with an optimistic outlook.  We show them that with proper treatment, support and self management it is possible to overcome or at least manage mental distress and that it need not prevent them from leading full lives.  We encourage people to be as independent as possible, to volunteer, or work, have busy social lives and achieve their aims in life. 

Everyone on the Recovery programme also has access to our other services, many of which are aimed at supporting them in their progress towards their goals.  Services includes such as Drama, Creative Writing, Walking Football, Gardening, Walk and Talk, Craft and Chat, Running, Gardening and Movement and Relaxation. We also have a Litter Picking Group which encourages people to become more active in the community.  We also provide a series of workshops on subjects such as social skills, self esteem, anxiety management, anger management, sleep, psychosis management etc.  Moodswings has good relationships with both the voluntary and statutory sector.

Moodswings was recognised by the Kings Fund, receiving an award in their IMPACT Awards scheme.  This award was the result of an extensive audit of our services and visits from representatives of the King’s Fund in London. We won the Manchester Community Group of the year Award in 2007.  This award was sponsored by the Co-Operative.  We were nominated by the Co Op Graduates and voted for by businesses and organisations in Greater Manchester. Most recently we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.  This is the organisational equivalent of an MBE, awarded by the Queen to organisations showing excellence in the voluntary sector.

https://www.moodswings.org.uk/