The ongoing theme for the Cows about Cambridge art trail is health and wellbeing, and with their official travel partner being Thameslink, the rail operator has announced that Cambridge station will be hosting drop-in mental health hubs which will be situated just outside the station and will be open to passengers and the general public.

The drop-in hubs have been organised by Thameslink and Greater Anglia, and will be run by volunteers from Cambridge Samaritans, CPSL Mind and Cambridgeshire Public Health, and will open at 7 am and close at 7 pm on Friday the 13th and 7 am to 5 pm on Saturday the 14th of August 2021.

The aim of the hubs is to give those looking for help, support or advice about mental health directing them or providing information about local services.

Listening volunteers from Samaritans and Mind will be available throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday and professionals from Cambridgeshire Public Health will also be available during these times.

Mind has worked with Thameslink before for the Cows about Cambridge art trail where they ran a mini moo design competition also based on the theme of health and wellbeing.

The winner of the competition was librarian Alice Billington who used flowers, butterflies and the human shape to create a mini moo, which conveys the road to wellbeing. 

Alice’s mini moo is entitled ‘And so the flower will bloom again’ will be on display until Saturday the 4th of September at Jigsaw on Trinity Street.

Thameslink has also sponsored the ‘Strength in Numbers’ cow which is located at St. Andrew’s Church in Cambridge.

‘Strength in Numbers’ is inspired by the artistic sister who works in the mental health sector in the county of Cambridgeshire and the design includes people connecting hands and is hoped to give encouragement to people to reach out to others around them, the piece illustrates mental resilience and support that every individual can provide when connected.

The mental health hubs have been organised to highlight help and support available in the locality.

Anybody seeking professional help with mental health issues are encouraged to use NHS First Response Service on 111, option 2.

Anybody suffering from any kind of mental health crisis can find helplines and services here.

To get in touch with Samaritans or to talk to someone at any time please call or email.

Tom Moran, Managing Director of Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “We’re really proud to have Alice’s mini moo as well as the ‘Strength in Numbers’ cow as part of this year’s art trail because the messages behind each design bring to life the importance of talking to one another. We wanted to take that ethos one step further by hosting somewhere for people living in the city, or visiting for the day, to come and seek help. We’re working with Cambridge Samaritans, CPSL Mind and Cambridgeshire Public Health to ensure the right support is available and we encourage people to come down and have a chat.”

Kathy Hartley, Consultant in Public Health, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, commented: “This event is a great opportunity for people in the area to learn more about the help that is available to them if they are concerned about their own mental health or the mental health of a loved one. This has the potential to benefit many people, both in Cambridgeshire and beyond, and it would be fantastic to see lots of people visit.”

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