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3)
Hafan Hedd Resource Centre, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion
South
Teifi Valley Community Mental Health Team’s objectives are to
bring people with mental health problems back into the community and
work. They hope to do this by providing them with meaningful
activities which will develop their social skills and feelings of
self worth. The team are NHS employees and the Trust also finances
the lease hire of a project vehicle. Service Users are referred to
the project by G.P.s after assessment by the Community Psychiatric
Nurse. The Team is also hoping to receive referrals from the Jobs,
Education, Training Service, (JETS) as well as developing
partnerships with other local Mental Health groups and drop in
centres.
In
October 2005 the Team’s Project Developer collaborated with
Ceredigion’s Coast Care Officer of Keep Wales Tidy to initiate
the Hafan Hedd Coast Care Project. The team meet on a weekly basis to
undertake litter collection and step maintenance on beaches between
Cardigan and Aberystwyth. Service Users find it rewarding to be able
to help the community and the environment. They also appreciate the
compliments received from both locals and holiday makers. Due to the
success of this project, the team has developed a working
relationship with the National Trust and is hoping to undertake a
Sand Dune Restoration Project.
In
2006 the Project Developer received training in woodland activities
under the Woods for Wellbeing project run by Tir Coed. Service Users
have now visited a privately owned wood where the initial 6 training
sessions were held and conduct weekly activities there, ranging from
green woodworking to woodland management. The woodland owners have
allocated a section of the wood to the Team where they are clearing
an area and replanting with willow for craft work as well as
establishing a footpath, building a pond and designing and planting a
willow labyrinth.
The
maximum number of Service Users per woodland visit is six, under the
duty of care of the Project Developer. These numbers could increase
to nine if a suitable volunteer were recruited.
The
day begins with tea and an evaluation of team members to assess their
mood and concentration levels so that individuals can be allotted
suitable activities. Emotional as well as physical wellbeing is
assessed during this time. The Project developer is aware of
individual Service Users’ medication and the possible side
effects. A first aid kit is always taken, along with sun block.
Health and Safety assessments are undertaken and the project’s
activities are covered under the Trust’s public liability
insurance.
A
team leader is chosen to be responsible for the other members as well
as the tools. This group will undertake low risk activities, whereas
higher risk activities are supervised by the Project Developer in a
smaller group of 3 Service Users.
The
woodland activities project has had no drop outs and Service Users
particularly value the experience. The woods provide a
non-authoritarian environment, the benefits of which exceed that of
the Coast Care Project in terms of emotional development which while
being successful, has received 2 drop outs from a total of 14
participants. Service Users develop an increased sense of self
esteem, awareness and communication from being in a new environment
while developing practical as well as social skills. The Project
Developer states that the woods give individuals a “time to
reflect, be positive and accept they have a problem, deal with it and
move on”. |
