Press releases 2007

Making life more of a picnic for mental health sufferers in South Wiltshire

5th July 2007

Salisbury’s Outreach one2one service has celebrated a number of special milestones with a big picnic for members and staff in Queen Elizabeth Gardens!

The Outreach service, run by Alabaré Christian Care Centres, has been celebrating its fifth birthday and three years of Big Lottery Funding.

The service provides a lifeline to those with long-term mental health illnesses to help them lead as full a life as possible within the community.  Members are offered one to one sessions to help improve self esteem and social skills and increase confidence.  They also run a number of activity and social groups including flower arranging and jewellery making workshops, a coffee club, a cinema group, the Hot Gossip and Lavender Blues clubs, sports activities and rural social and skills groups based in Amesbury, Mere and Wilton.

The service was originally run as Rural and Social One2One from the Greencroft Centre in the city, but was taken over by Alabaré in June 2006 when the centre had to close. At the same time an Interim City one2one service was commissioned by South Wiltshire Primary Care Trust and, with some early financial assistance from Wilts County Council, will now run until 5 April 2008.  So, the celebratory team picnic was also to mark the first birthday of the City one2one service.

Without the recent decision from PCT Wiltshire to financially support this service, the above would not be possible.

Outreach one2one Manager Jeremy Bugden said “We are delighted to be celebrating such a number of successes at one2one.  We have helped so many individuals over the last five years, and are delighted that we have managed to help over 100 people through City one2one since it began in June 2006.”

He added “Currently there are 145 people with enduring mental health issues regularly accessing the one2one services.  It is now a recognised fact that as many as one in four of us will, at some point in our lives, suffer from a mental health-related illness.”

To mark the occasion one2one client Suzie spoke out about how the service helped her over the last five years.

“I moved to Salisbury from London in 2002 aged 19.  I had no confidence and was slipping into depression and the only thing keeping me going was my dog Max. I met Jo Barrow from One2One and we started going to Dog classes in Harnham together.  After a while I was able to go with my partner (who dropped me off and picked me up 2 hours later). My partner and I moved to Alderbury, but being unable to catch a bus due to severe anxiety made this move a huge problem and days even weeks would pass without me even leaving the village.  Without the help of the Alabaré Outreach one2one service I don’t know what would have happened?

In 2005 I got the courage up to take driving lessons; I passed both my theory and practical first time, which was a big shock. This has made a huge difference to my life; I was able to take myself to the many different one2one social groups. In 2005 I also became Editor for the one2one ‘Reaching Out’ Newsletter.

I have quit smoking and volunteer for the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital, all whilst dealing with some very difficult issues.  In November 2006 I was presented with a Progress Award by the then Mayor of Salisbury, Sheila Warrander.

2007 didn’t get off to the best start; the stress and anxiety crept up on me again, but knowing that Outreach one2one is there for me, keeps me going.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about this valuable community service should contact Manager Jeremy Bugden on 01722 820417.      

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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