My wife Debbie Wheatley recently passed away unexpectedly.

Debbie was a Mental Health Facilitator in Oakham and had a degree in Occupational Therapy (OT).

The basic role of an OT is to help people to get back to doing what they used to do before they got ill perhaps via an accident, illness or developed mental health issues that affected their ability to perform day to day tasks or work, that many people consider part of their normal day to day life.

Debbie was passionate about helping people with mental health challenges and in getting them back on the road to working and greater independence.

Pepper's is a new initiative in Oakham that Deb would have loved to have supported

It was recently set up to offer volunteering opportunities to people in Rutland with severe and enduring mental health conditions. It is currently a place where people can meet in a safe, informal and welcoming environment whilst enjoying a cup of coffee or a bowl of soup. As our volunteers grow in confidence they will be invited to expand and run the cafe. Having a go at being part of the cafe will enable people to build work skills and self-esteem, to develop a role, structure and routine and, above all, to feel a sense of belonging and achievement. The aim is that Pepper’s is used as a stepping stone for a more formal work arrangement and a move towards greater independence.

The areas we would like to develop in addition to the above, but which are subject to funding, are:

- renting an allotment plot where volunteers could get fresh air, some activity and grow vegetables for use in the cafe

- holding classes once a week in the church hall at the end of the day. The plan would be to finish the cafe and chat at around 2pm after which there would be an hour of a rolling programme of Tai Chi/Qigong, a choir/music lesson, other physical activity, mindfulness practice or other activities requested by the volunteers.