SECE Mind Attends Cllr Jo McPherson's Charity Garden Party
On a sunny summer afternoon at The Lawns in Rochford, South East and Central Essex Mind was honoured to attend Cllr Jo McPherson’s Charity Garden Party — a joyful and meaningful gathering in support of mental health across our local communities.
We’re proud to share that SECE Mind has been chosen as Cllr McPherson’s Charity of the Year. Her commitment to championing mental health, particularly among men and young people, is a powerful step forward, and we’re delighted to be working alongside her throughout the year.
The garden party opened with a heartfelt speech from Cllr McPherson, who outlined her priorities for the year ahead — focusing on supporting men to open up about their mental health and reaching more young people with early intervention and preventative support. Her passion and determination were truly inspiring.
Our CEO, Dr David Sollis, followed with a message about SECE Mind’s mission: to prevent mental ill health, reduce stigma and long waiting times, and create a brighter future for mental wellbeing in South East and Central Essex. He emphasised the importance of partnership — working together with community groups, individuals, and decision-makers to utilise our collective strengths and ensure mental health services are accessible, welcoming and rooted in local need.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with Jo and her team. The aim is to have a real impact over the year to promote positive mental health and develop new services. This is a great partnership based on respect, passion and commitment.”
Throughout the event, our team had the pleasure of connecting with an array of passionate and engaged individuals who share our vision. Highlights included conversations with:
Joy and Willow from the Southend Youth Council, future leaders with a clear vision for youth mental health
Rt Hon Mark Francois MP and Vice Chairman of Rochford District Council, Simon Wootton
James Edmunds, Chair of Rochford Parish Council, and Marianne Vernon, Chair of Rayleigh Town Council
Bayo Alaba MP for Southend East & Rochford
Stuart Long BEM, founder and CEO of Achieve Thrive & Flourish, a long-time ally in supporting community resilience
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our own team. The senior SECE Mind team showed up in full spirit, connecting with guests, sharing our work, and celebrating the power of community coming together for mental health.
We’re also thrilled to share that the event raised over £1,000, which will go directly towards local mental health projects and partnerships — helping us support more people, earlier and more effectively.
Thank you to Cllr Jo McPherson for your continued support, and to everyone we had the joy of meeting. Together, we’re making a real difference.
If you’d like to get involved, collaborate, or learn more about our work, we’d love to hear from you.