Devon brain injury support group passes six-month milestone – BBC

Report on the ‘Minds over Matter’ Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

• A community support group, ‘Minds over Matter’, has been established in East Devon for individuals with brain injuries, their families, and carers.
• Operating from a local pub in Ottery St Mary, the initiative functions as a social club to provide a non-clinical support environment.
• After a successful initial six-month period with 20 members, the group aims to expand its reach and services.
• The initiative’s model and objectives directly contribute to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, inequality, and community development.

Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The group directly promotes mental and social well-being for a vulnerable population by creating a supportive, non-sterile environment.
• It fosters positive health outcomes through social activities, including games, music, and conversation, which combat isolation.
• Member Dan Sutton, who has aphasia, reports significant positive engagement, stating, “The group is class. The cards, the pool, the darts, I love it”.
• The informal pub setting is a deliberate choice to create a “calm” and “homely” atmosphere, which is conducive to mental well-being.

Contribution to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The initiative actively works to reduce the social inequalities faced by people with disabilities by providing an inclusive and accessible community space.
• It empowers individuals with brain injuries and their support networks to participate fully in community life, countering social exclusion.
• The group’s foundation by family members, Mike and Jackie Sutton, demonstrates a grassroots approach to addressing the specific needs of this demographic.

Contribution to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Community Hub Development: The group has a stated objective to evolve into a community hub, enhancing local social infrastructure and resilience.
2. Inclusive Public Spaces: By utilising the Lamb and Flag pub, the initiative repurposes a public community space to be more inclusive and supportive of vulnerable residents.
3. Strengthening Community Bonds: The model fosters a “very friendly environment,” as described by the venue’s co-owner, strengthening social cohesion within the local community.

Future Objectives and Alignment with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Expansion of Services: The group plans to expand its role by inviting professionals to offer expert advice.
• Professional Collaboration: A key future goal is to establish partnerships with healthcare experts, such as speech therapists and physiotherapists.
• Model for Collaboration: This strategy exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership approach, combining a community-led social initiative with professional healthcare services to achieve the shared objectives of SDG 3.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article focuses on a support group for people with brain injuries, directly addressing their mental and social well-being. The group provides a non-clinical, social environment to improve the quality of life for individuals and their families.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The initiative aims to promote the social inclusion of persons with disabilities (brain injuries). By creating a welcoming space, the group empowers individuals who might otherwise be isolated, ensuring they can participate in community life.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article describes the creation of an inclusive and accessible community space. The “Minds over Matter” group uses a local pub to function as a “community hub,” making a public space safe and welcoming for a vulnerable group.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.”
   • The support group directly contributes to the “promote mental health and well-being” aspect of this target. It provides a social outlet with “cake, music and, most importantly, games” in a “friendly environment,” which is crucial for the mental and emotional health of people recovering from brain injuries and for their carers.
2. Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”
   • The article highlights the group’s mission to foster social inclusion for people with disabilities. It was set up for “people with such injuries, but also their family members, carers, and friends.” This actively promotes the inclusion of a specific group (people with brain injuries) in a social setting, combating the isolation that can accompany such conditions.
3. Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.”
   • The group’s decision to meet in the “Lamb and Flag pub” transforms a public space into an inclusive and accessible hub for persons with disabilities. The article notes the choice was deliberate to create a “completely different atmosphere to other support groups” and to become a “community hub,” fulfilling the goal of making public spaces accessible and welcoming for all.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 3.4 (Promote well-being):
   • Qualitative feedback on well-being: The testimony of member Dan Sutton, who said, “The group is class. The cards, the pool, the darts, I love it,” serves as a direct indicator of improved well-being and enjoyment.
   • Nature of the environment: The description of the group as “social,” “not regimented,” “very free-flowing, very calm, very homely” implies a positive environment conducive to mental well-being.
2. For Target 10.2 (Promote social inclusion):
   • Number of participants: The article states the group “already has 20 members” and is “hoping to expand its numbers.” This is a quantitative indicator of the level of social inclusion being achieved.
   • Scope of inclusion: The group’s policy of including not just individuals with injuries but also “their family members, carers, and friends” is an indicator of a broad and inclusive approach.
3. For Target 11.7 (Provide access to inclusive public spaces):
   • Frequency of use of the public space: The group “runs once a month” in the pub, indicating regular and sustained use of a public space for an inclusive purpose.
   • Future plans for the space: The ambition to become a “community hub” and invite “professionals such as speech therapists and physiotherapists to offer advice” indicates a plan to enhance the function and accessibility of this public space for the target community.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com