Representatives from Keighley-based mental health and wellbeing charity 'Missing Peace' have visited Downing Street this week to take part in a reception for community champions from across the UK.
Emma Gibson, Nick Smith and Jimmy Vaughan from Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support travelled down to London on Wednesday after being invited by local MP Robbie Moore.
After a tour of the Houses of Parliament, they met the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak along with other community groups from across the country at 10 Downing Street to discuss their community work.
Emma and Nick set up their first peer support group in Keighley back in 2013, going on to set up Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support in 2017.
The group provide a range of structured and activity-based support to help local residents with their mental health and wellbeing, including peer support groups, one-to-one sessions, Wellness Recovery Action Plan Seminars, Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Core Principles Training, Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid.
The group also organises skills sessions - including motivational speaking courses and meditation groups - and received backing from the National Lottery Community Fund, The Cellar Trust Bradford a range of local mental health organisations.
Speaking after the visit, Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore said: “Our community thrives from passionate people who care deeply about our town and wider area. It was therefore an absolute honour to invite three incredible individuals to 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister for a Community Champions Reception.
"I would like to pay tribute to to Emma Gibson, Nick Smith and Jimmy Vaughan from Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support for all they do in Keighley and our wider area to help people with mental health and wellbeing support. It is hugely appreciated and I can’t thank Emma, Nick and Jimmy, their teams and their volunteers enough.”
Emma Gibson and Nick Smith of Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support said: "It was a honour to be invited to the reception at Downing Street and to be recognised as Robbie’s community champions for Keighley. We don’t do it for the accolades, we do the work we do because we care about people. This clearly shows our motto of 'If We Can, You Too Can'."
Jimmy Vaughan of Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support said: "It was a huge honour to be one of Robbie's community champions and invited to meet the Prime Minister.
"I must have said 'This is mad isn't it?' five hundred times during our visit to London! I never expected any of this and I don't do it for the accolades or awards, I do it because I want people to know they aren't alone in how the think or feel, to know that it is ok to report their story to the police and it is ok to get support and to talk to someone. Together we can beat the stigma."
To find out more about Missing Peace visit missingpeace.org.uk/what-we-do
Today was surreal!! We met the Prime Minister for a Community Champions Reception at 10 Downing Street. Thank you to all our volunteers + supporters especially Robbie Moore MP for the recognition!! Nick đłđ€đ„°đ€©đ
Posted by Missing Peace Wellbeing + Support on Wednesday, March 22, 2023
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