An update on the MASH Meet & Eat social sessions
source: Catalyst/Tippa Naphtali
republished: April 2025
In October 2024 we announced a delay to the return of the MASH Meet & Eat sessions that were so popular until they were discontinued in early 2019 due to a lack of funding resources.
The very first eat-out had taken place in November 2017.
This was due to significant staff changes and a temporary lack of staff capacity to carry out the preparation work to complete the delivery of this service.
We are pleased to announce that due to the recent appointment of
Clive Coley
(Projects & Development Manager at Catalyst 4 Change) the engagement and organising of the Meet & Eat programme will be driven by him and other community development staff.
So, what is Meet & Eat?
It is simply about enjoying relaxed evenings with good food and company (helping to alleviate isolation and loneliness), while sampling fine multicultural cuisine from around Birmingham, Sandwell and, eventually, the wider Black Country.
The sessions will be open to anyone with lived experience of mental health issues, their carers, friends and support staff from all sorts of agencies.
Tippa Naphtali said; "We're simply taking a thing that we all do in everyday life, tweaking it and injecting a little resource, to ensure that those who do not often enjoy socialising in this way, can do so in an affordable and safe space, with familiar people around them."
When will Meet & Eat sessions start?
We hope to commence in the Summer of 2025 once we have been able to secure discounted meal-deals with various restaurants and establishments. Initially the sessions will be Birmingham-based, but we hope to role these out in other areas in future.
Though not the primary purpose of Meet & Eat, we may also use these meal sessions to listen to any service user general concerns, and consider those of others present!
Want to hear more?
Be sure to keep up with future developments by signing up for the Catalyst 4 Change e-newsletter, if you have not already done so Click here. See the MASH Newsletter Archive. Click here.
Mentoring & Advocacy Support Hub (MASH):
After almost a 8-year gap in service delivery due to loss of funding, Catalyst 4 Change is now actively seeking funding to re-start the service as outlined in the community development plan as announced at its Annual CommUNITY Assembly in 2023.
For more information or if you are able to help please contact Clive Coley:
Mob/Message: 07599 295 265 or 0844 884 3133
Email: clive.coley@catalyst4change.org.uk
