People who mind.

This film looks at community care (which later became 'care in the community') for people with mental health problems. The film appears to have been made to appeal to potential volunteers or befrienders and shows a number of initiatives in Southend-on-sea, Norwich and Bexley in London. Many of the people helped by these initiatives were formerly in the care of hospitals, some of them long-term so they have very little confidence in their social skills or ability to look after themselves. In Southend, a day centre has been set up and a mixed group of people by age and gender are seen crafting and specifically making kites. They are also offered the opportunity to go on outings and a minibus takes a group to Southend pier to the amusement arcade. Then, in Norwich, a scheme to provide group homes is outlined. The local branch of MIND has procured council housing from the Local Authority and in one house on Newmarket Street, four elderly ladies now live together - and poignantly enjoy the freedom of drinking their tea from a teapot and china cups. It is emphasised that there are significant tax savings by caring for individuals in this way. In Bexley, the local group have set up a befriending scheme. Two participants give their views. A house-wife and part-time post office cashier talks about the time she spends with a woman. She strolls around the shops with her and talks a little about the woman's background and how she is helping her. A man talks about seeing a screening of the BBC drama 'Gale is Dead' (1970) about a girl's suicide at his daughter's school and then being motivated to volunteer as a befriender. His charge is 'Fred' (not seen), a man with multiple scelorosis who is paralysed from the waist down. From the evidence on the film, such as the befriender going to the local busy market to buy the cheapest trousers he can find, 'Fred' suffers from significant financial difficulties. He also lives in a decrepit run down street.