Updated 11/5/23
We are sad to say the Bridge Collective is in the process of closing down.
We said goodbye to our premises in King Street on the 3rd of April and at the April Community Meeting, we agreed we would hold a member’s meeting on the 25th of May so that members can vote on a resolution to close the Bridge Collective CIC as a company.
A combination of circumstances has led us to the conclusion that we don’t have enough resources in all the places we need them to continue the Bridge Collective C.I.C.
After 16 years of doing amazing things together as a community we are stopping, with hopes that our mission can go forward in new ways and our community can continue to connect in new places.
The Bridge has been a coming together for a time, of many paths for many people, and we hope our paths may continue to meet as we travel on.
We will post any updates here: www.facebook.com/bridgecollective
Here’s a link to our final newsletter: www.bridgecollective.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Spring-23-final.pdf
You are warmly invited to our farewell picnic on Saturday 27th May.
Warmth, well wishes and thanks
Our past welcome page is below
Our Mission Statement
To be a company whose members are creating:
A democratic community where people who have experiences, beliefs, and feelings that have sometimes been labelled as mental illness are welcomed and can talk about these experiences freely, safely and without judgement; a place to participate in friendship, support, learning, teaching, discussion, being active, and making a valid contribution both within the collective and the wider community.
The Bridge Collective Open Afternoon:
Open Thursday afternoons are a space for people to connect with the Bridge and with each other. The Bridge Collective welcomes visitors who are interested in finding out more about who we are, what we do and how to get involved. See our What’s on page for upcoming Thursday dates.
Who we are:
⇒ We are a social enterprise set up as a Community Interest Company.
⇒ We are building a democratic community of mutual support run by people who have experiences, beliefs, and feelings that have sometimes been labelled as mental illness.
⇒ We are creating a place where these experiences can be talked about freely, safely, and without judgement.
⇒ Our company has been formed from well established and respected groups such as The Joan of Arc Project, The Greenwood Project, Underground Sound, Experts-by-Experience, The Exeter Hearing-Voices Group, The Exeter Social Anxiety Support Group, The Exeter Bi-Polar Group, and The Better Believe It Group. All present and future work is to be under the democratic control of the people most involved in it.
⇒ We are committed to as open and democratic a process as is possible to create and to an approach based on respect for all members’ views and on working to arrive at consensus where possible. We are also committed to respecting the autonomy of groups and projects within the Collective. We publish a quarterly newsletter containing news, poetry, observations, arguments and articles.
What we do:
The Bridge Collective offers opportunities for social contact and mutual support, learning, teaching, discussion, being active and making a valid contribution both to the Bridge Collective itself and to the wider world. Some examples of our support groups, activities and social opportunities can be found HERE.
Where we are:
Click HERE to see a map showing where to find us
Bridge Collective What’s On
Click HERE to see What’s On
Bridge Collective Calendar
Click HERE to see our calendar
Online Social Network:
Also please visit our Facebook page for more news and events.
Website content:
The website has contributions from people who share their perspectives and opinions. The views expressed are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Bridge Collective.
Mental health and Wellbeing Exeter Devon