Posted on: 14 May 2025
For Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, we're celebrating the power and importance of community. Anastasiia's journey shows just how life-changing a safe, supportive space can be.
One Community is a grassroots network co facilitated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), designed to connect current and former service users, staff, and families across inpatient, outpatient, and community care. Operating at both St Charles Mental Health Centre and Bay20 in North Kensington, One Community offers safe, welcoming spaces where people can take part in creative workshops, gardening, music recording, community trips, and more.
Facilitated by CNWL staff, and One Community members, the project builds strong relationships between the NHS and the local community—bridging the gap between hospital care and everyday life, and giving people the opportunity to belong, contribute, and heal together.
Here is a story of a service user and their experience at One Community
My name is Anastasiia Udalykh, I’m 26, and I came to the UK from Ukraine in 2022.
When I arrived, I didn’t know anyone. I was dealing with anxiety, loneliness, and I was using spice weed to cope. I felt completely disconnected and overwhelmed and eventually, I experienced a psychotic breakdown. That’s when I was admitted to Shannon Ward at St Charles Hospital.
It was there that I met Cate Latto, who leads One Community and that meeting changed everything.
After I was discharged in 2023, I started attending the One Community groups at Bay20. It felt scary at first, but every Friday I’d come back. I slowly started reconnecting with things I used to enjoy especially music and art. I started recording music in the studio from the moment it opened, and since then I’ve recorded a lot of songs and released them to the world. That gave me a sense of purpose again.
The impact of One Community on my life has been huge. I’ve made real friends. I’ve performed at The Playground Theatre and performed again in February. Most importantly, I’ve found my voice.
Being part of this community has helped reduce my social anxiety massively. I can talk to people now, I’m more confident, and I’ve even started volunteering at the Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) through One Community something I hope turns into a long-term role.
Demand for mental health support has grown significantly since the pandemic, prompting the NHS to expand crisis services to better meet people’s needs. CNWL’s MHCAS, launched at St Charles Hospital in November 2022, is one of nine centres across England.
Many patients at MHCAS face complex social challenges, from housing issues to medication concerns. Volunteers from One Community offer peer support on site, helping to meet people where they are. It offers 24/7 care in a calm, therapeutic setting, and an alternative to A&E for those in mental health crisis. People in North West London are able to self-refer and walk in, with the service extending to Hammersmith and Fulham in March 2025.
Some things I never expected to enjoy like birdwatching during Tuesday nature walks, or learning how to garden have brought me peace and happiness. I even bought my own binoculars! And I’ve picked up skills I never thought I’d learn, like being a good plant parent.
Knowing that One Community is there every Friday and Tuesday helps me structure my time and gives me a place where I truly feel I belong. For me and many others it’s a lifeline.
One Community isn’t just about activities it’s about connection. It’s a space where people like me, coming out of crisis or hospital care, can rediscover who we are with kindness, support and no pressure to ‘get better’ overnight. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you are in your mental health journey. It’s these kinds of safe, social spaces that make recovery possible not just for me, but for many others who come through CNWL’s services.
Need support or want to get involved?
For general mental health support, find out more here or speak to your GP.
You are not alone there is always help available.
If you’re currently receiving support through CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, ask your care coordinator or key worker about joining One Community activities. You can also find more information through staff at St Charles Mental Health Centre or at Bay20 in North Kensington.
If you’d like to be a part of the One Community social network, feel free to email them at cnwl.onecommunity@nhs.net
This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s celebrate the power of community. Because no one should feel alone—and together, we can heal.