Our drop-in centre is a thriving safe haven

9:09am Friday 3rd October 2008

WHEN Juliet Mari and Heather Freeman sat down to discuss what could be done to provide a meeting place in Worcester for people with mental health problems, they had no idea their plan for a drop-in centre would last three years.

“Very few service-user-led organisations for those with mental health difficulties survive their first year,” said Mrs Mari.

But this week current and past members, their friends and families, volunteers and supporters of the Survivors Club, which is based at St Swithun’s Institute, The Trinity, are celebrating its third anniversary.

Not only has it survived – but it is thriving. The small independent club was set up by Ms Freeman and other supporters when Worcester City Mind, which had supported local people with mental health problems for 25 years, closed due to lack of funding.

Mrs Mari, the club’s current chairman, said: “The founding of the Survivors Club was a direct, practical response to the great distress expressed by many who had used Mind and feared they would lose contact with all their friends and would become completely socially isolated as they were ineligible for, or unwilling to accept, alternative facilities.

“It has been better than expected. I never imagined I would be doing this three years on. We really are flourishing.”

She said the club’s success was due to a number of local and national organisations which had offered practical help funding and support.

These include St Swithun’s Institute which provided the hall for a nominal rent until the club’s committee gained funding, Community First, Awards for All, the Eveson Trust, the Mental Health Network, the Studdart Kennedy Fund and various well-wishers.

It was also able to access the residual funds from the Worcester City Mind when it closed and had invaluable practical support and advice from Worcester City Volunteer Bureau.

“We have people come to us from as far away as Evesham, Pershore, Stourport, Malvern and Tenbury, as well as those from Worcester.”

The twice-weekly service is free as available on a self-referral basis to anyone with mild depression or anxiety to those with acute schizophrenia and to their family and friends.

“Anyone who feels comfortable is welcome. The only thing we ask is that people have to be kind and considerate to other people there.”

According to Mrs Mari the members describe the club as a safe haven. “There is still such a stigma with mental illness and people get a lot of hassle from neighbours and often live in fear.

“We provide somewhere safe. It is a safe, friendly and accepting environment where members can offer each other mutual support, socialise, participate in various activities or just relax.

“They can also always find a supportive ear if they want to discuss issues or get advice and support with practical problems.

“It provides a safety net where they have the opportunity to build self-confidence and self-esteem and develop social skills.

“Most of the members are pretty socially isolated. The vast majority live on their own,” said Mrs Mari.

A visit to the Survivors Club can mean sitting around the table chatting to other members, playing the piano, having a game of table football or snooker or reading the newspaper.

“Lots of our members have exceptional talents and are a delight to be around. They do appreciate that they are not forced into inane activities.”

One members described the club as a “reason for getting out of bed in the morning. It is the only place where I feel really safe and that I can just be myself and people will understand and accept me”.

Apart from providing this safe haven, the Survivors Club has also organised three very successful holidays for its members as well as a number of outings. “A lot of people have not got the confidence to go on holiday on their own and we took one person who had never been on holiday before.”

The club is run entirely by volunteers – almost all of whom have or have had mental health problems themselves. In many cases the volunteers and members benefit so much from the personal and practical support offered they go on to get paid jobs.

“We have a very high turnover of volunteers because so many go on to employment,” said Mrs Mari.

Having successfully established the Survivors Club in Worcester, the committee wants to encourage more people suffering from mental health problems to use it.

“If anyone is suffering, or has suffered from mental health difficulties, or is simply feeling a bit lonely, isolated, anxious, or depressed and wants a friendly nonjudgemental place to relax and meet some new people, please come to Survivors. We are always happy to see a new face,” said Mrs Mari.

The club in St Swithun’s Institute is open (press bell No 8) every Tuesday from 11am to 3pm and every Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Anyone interested in helping out at the club should contact Worcester City Volunteer Bureau on 01905 24741 or ring Mrs Mari on 01299 403986 or call in during the drop-in sessions.