Soton organisations awareded our 'Stars for Stars'

We’ve awarded stars to five city organisations this month that have been nominated by the general public for their positive and kind approach to mental health (October 2025).

Back in May, we asked people to put forward those they feel create kind environments and promote good mental health.

Nominations

Our Coordinator, Chloe explains: “Each quarter we’re now asking for nominations for businesses, charities, organisations and individuals who Southampton residents, and anyone who works in city, feel deserve one of our Stars for Stars.

“We’ve completed our first set of nominations and from these have selected a fab five to receive our awards and they are: October Books in Portswood, Southampton City Mission, St Christopher’s Church Thornhill, the Co-op Bank, city centre branch, Board in the City CIC on Onslow Road and St Denys Activity Group. We had some really lovely nominations.”

Kindness

We heard about how October Books provides a safe environment, how the City Mission offers vital support, friendship and more, and about the Co-op Bank’s kindness to a lady with early stages dementia.

Sam Gregory, Co-op Bank Manager says: “We’re honoured to be nominated for a Stars for Stars award by a member of the Southampton public. I stepped in as soon as we realised that our customer had not been supported properly elsewhere. She needed to make a relatively simple transaction and, whilst her individual circumstances weren’t straightforward, all she needed was some extra time and a bit of kindness so we could understand her situation.

Dignity, patience and respect

“Then it was quite easy to find the best way to securely meet her financial needs and, most importantly, make her feel safe and valued. I don’t feel we did anything out of the ordinary, we just showed a little compassion. Every customer deserves to be treated with dignity, patience and respect – especially those facing additional challenges like dementia – and this nomination reminds me why we do what we do. We’re proud to stand alongside other Southampton nominees making a difference every day.”

The Stars for Stars initiative was conceived by our co-founding member, and the first leader of our SMILE (Southampton Mental Illness Lived Experience) section, Saire Herschel-Clark.

How Stars for Stars started

Chloe continues: “Saire thought of the idea of awarding businesses, organisations and individuals in the city with stars when she needed help during an episode at Sainsbury’s in Portswood last year. The experience was so reassuring Saire thought that if other businesses did the same, she’d feel more confident being out and about and could also recommend them.

“After discussing it further with the Network’s Trustees, everyone thought it was a great idea to create an official scheme where people could nominate businesses, places and even individuals who they thought were beacons for fostering good mental well-being in Southampton. So, we’re indebted to Saire for this wonderful idea.”

We’re now asking people to get in touch to put forward anyone they think deserves a star in the October to December quarter.

How to nominate

We have Stars for Stars details on our website news area where people can fill in and submit a brief form, or people can get in touch to receive one, to explain why they have nominated a particular business or person for their star quality. Please nominate them here!

Each awarded star lasts for a year and would need to be nominated again 12 months after the initial allocation. Visits and star allocations are free and being a member of Southampton Mental Health Network is not a qualifying factor for being considered for the scheme.

We will however provide brief Stars for Stars guidelines, which will be shared with recipients, on how stars can be displayed and mentioned in print, on websites and in social media. Our stars will be designed up to include the date when presented too.

Photo taken with thanks to Tim Kenyon Photography.