AWARE

AWARE is the Depression Charity for Northern Ireland. The focus of our work is to educate and provide support to people on the illness of depression. A Derry born charity, we now have two offices; one in Derry/Londonderry and a second office in Belfast. AWARE has an established network of 25 support groups in rural and urban areas across the country, which are run by our trained volunteers. Support groups welcome people with depression and bipolar disorder as well as carers for people with the illness. We also deliver Information Outreach sessions and attend community events to give more information about AWARE and our services. AWARE deliver mental health and well being programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces. These programmes include our suite of Mood Matters programmes, Living Life to the Full, Mental Health First Aid and Mindfulness. AWARE has a fundraising department organising fundraising events in schools and communities throughout Northern Ireland. At AWARE, we believe that the people who use our services should have a say in how they are developed and delivered, so we employ people with experience of depression at every level in the organisation, including the Board of Trustees. We rely on our dedicated and caring volunteers who run our support groups. Many of our volunteers began as service users themselves and as such are an excellent asset to us and keep us informed on staying in touch with people's needs.