Press Release

8th Oct 2007

Award nomination for Alabaré's Outreach team

As we recognise World Mental Health Day on Wed 10th Oct, Alabaré’s mental health service will also be celebrating having been nominated for a very special award.

The Outreach One2one team has been put forward for the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) Positive Practice Awards 2007.  The awards are aimed at identifying, sharing and rewarding positive practice within the care services.  The winner receives a trophy and £2000.

Outreach One2one joined Alabaré back in June 2006 after the closure of the Greencroft Centre.  The service aims to reduce isolation and help people with an enduring mental health illness play a fuller part in the community.  One2one reaches out to people living in both the city and more rural areas. 

The service was nominated for the award by Clinical Psychologist Dr Sharon Pettit, who works at Fountain Way in Salisbury.  She works closely with the One2one team and often refers her clients to them. 

Dr Pettit said “I decided to nominate the One2one team because they provide such an important service to people with enduring mental health problems.  The One2one service helps clients put what they’ve learned in therapy into practice in real life situations, and therefore complements what we do really well.  The service also fits in very well with the government’s drive for social inclusion and I really wanted their hard work to get the recognition it deserves.”

Jeremey Bugden, Manager of Outreach One2one, said “We are all delighted to have been nominated for this award, it’s the first time we’ve been nominated for anything and it’s great to know that people appreciate what you are doing.”

He added “If we won the award the money would get ploughed straight back into the service, which we all so fervently believe in.”

The shortlist for the award will be announced later this month with the overall winner being revealed at a special ceremony on 17th December.

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For more information or to arrange an interview call Lara Higgins on 01722 344484

Alabaré Christian Care Centres is a regional charity, providing a range of services including supported housing, floating support services, drop-in centres, information, advice and training services and a registered care home.  The charity works with the homeless, ex-offenders, young people, individuals with a learning difficulty, vulnerable women and people with drug and alcohol problems, aiming to assist them with realising their potential and becoming valued members of society.

www.alabare.co.uk

Outreach One2one Staff and volunteers provide one to one support to service users away from their homes and encourage them to take part in social activities such as snooker, badminton or just going for a coffee.  They can also give advice in areas such as employment, housing and education.  They are continuing to expand on what it has to offer with the introduction of a series of Enterprises in card making, flower arranging and jewellery making with plans for further Enterprises in children’s toy making and gardening!  Members can develop new skills, build confidence and make new friends.

Find out more about the Care Services Improvement Partnership’s Positive Practice Awards by clicking below

http://www.positivepracticeawards07.csip.org.uk/